AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING 


TOR    A    MOMENT    OR    MORE    THERE    WAS    ABSOLUTE    STILLNESS 
IN    THAT    CRASSV    ARENA 


AS     IT     WA  S 

IN     THE 

BEGINNING 


BY 
PHILIP   VERRILL   MIGHELS 

Author  of  The  Furnace  of  Gold  and  Thurley  Ruxton 


New  York 
Desmond  FitzGerald,  Inc. 


Copyright,  1912 

By  DESMOND  FITZGERALD,  INC. 
All  Rights  Eesened 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER 

I.  A  TRUSTED  MESSENGER     . 

II.  AN  UNEXPECTED  OUTBURST 

III.  A  MIDNIGHT  TRAGEDY 

IV.  THE  NIGHT  AND  MORNING 

V.  THE  ISLAND         .... 

VI.  VARIOUS  DISCOVERIES 

VII.  A  GREWSOME  GUARDIAN    . 

VIII.  PRIMITIVE  CONDITIONS 

IX.  THE  MOTHER  OF  INVENTION 

X.  THE  MASTER  POACHER 

XI.  A  MYSTERY          .... 

XII.  AMBITIOUS  PLANS 

XIII.  A  MIDNIGHT  VISITOR 

XIV.  TRUANTS  OUT  OF  SCHOOL  . 
XV.  A  NIGHT  IN  THE  JUNGLE  . 

XVI.  A  DEAD  MAN'S  SECRET 

XVII.  FEVERISH  EMPLOYMENTS  HALTED 

XVIII.  AT  THE  TIGER'S  KILL 

XIX.  GRENVILLE'S  RADIANT  STAR 

XX.  A  GIRDLE  OF  GOLD    . 

XXI.  MOLTEN  METAL  AND  HOPES 

XXII.  A  TOMB  OF  STONE      . 

XXIII.  A  DESPERATE  CHANCE 

XXIV.  A  DREADED  VISITOR  . 
XXV.  AN  IRREPARABLE  Loss 

XXVI.  AFTER  TO-MORROW 


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2137421   * 


vi  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  PAGE 

XXVII.  A  FATEFUL  EXPLOSION         .        .  .-218 

XXVIII.  WHAT  THE  BLAST  DISCOVERED    .  .224 

XXIX.  AN  INTERRUPTED  DIVERSION       .  .     232 

XXX.  REVEALING  AN  INTENT         .         .  .     239 

XXXI.  THE  SILENT  VISITORS  .         .         .  .246 

XXXII.  DEATH  AS  A  BROTHER          .         .  .     255 

XXXIII.  THE   GIRL  BEHIND  THE  GUN        .  .     265 

XXXIV.  DYAK  DARTS  AND  METHODS         .  .     273 
XXXV.  A  BATTLE  IN  THE  SMOKE    .         .  .     281 

XXXVI.  THE  LAST  CUP  OF  WATER  .         .  .     287 

XXXVII.  A  BREATHLESS  MARGIN        .         .  .294 

XXXVIII.  GRENVILLE'S  DESPERATE  CHANCE  .     301 

XXXIX.  ADDITIONAL  HEAD-HUNTERS         .  .312 

XL.  PLOT  AND  COUNTER  PLOT   .         .  .319 

XLI.  A  LIVING  BAIT 326 

XLII.  LONG  HOURS  OF  DOUBT       .         .  .     334 

XLIII.  THE  HOUR  OF  CLIMAX          .         .  .341 

XLIV.  A  LOTUS  BLOSSOM        .         .         .  .350 

XLV.  THE  LAST  BOMB 357 

XLVI.  A  GIFT  REFUSED  ....     359 

XL VII.  A  FRIEND  IN  NEED  367 


AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING 


AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING 

CHAPTER  I 

A   TRUSTED   MESSENGER 

GRENVILLE  was  not  the  type  to  be  readily  excited, 
yet  a  glow  of  exceptional  brilliance  shone  in  his  eyes 
as  he  met  the  searching  gaze  of  his  friend,  and  wondered 
if  Fenton  could  be  jesting. 

That  he  had  made  no  reply  whatsoever  to  Fenton's 
proposition  he  failed  to  realize  till  Gerald  spoke  again. 

"  Well,  Sid,"  demanded  that  impetuous  lieutenant  of 
finance,  "gone  dumb?  Perhaps  I  haven't  made  it 
plain,"  and  he  particularized  on  his  fingers.  "  You  get 
an  ocean  trip  of  eight  or  ten  weeks'  duration,  tropic 
sun  at  its  best,  leisurely  business  without  a  fleck  of 
bother,  absolute  rest,  good  provender,  thorough  recuper 
ation,  your  entire  expenses  cheerfully  paid,  vast  service 
rendered  to  me,  no  time  lost  on  your  equilibrator,  time 
for  countless  new  inventions  to  sprout  in  your  fertile 
brain — and  the  unutterable  joy  of  escaping  this  abom 
inable  climate,  practically  at  once !  " 

Grenville's  smile,  still  brightly  boyish,  despite  the 
many  reverses  and  hardships  of  his  six  and  twenty 
years,  came  creeping  to  his  eyes.  His  wan  face  sug 
gested  a  tint  of  color. 

"  Don't  wake  me  up  for  a  moment,  Fen,"  he  an- 


2  AS  IT  WAS 

swered.  "  I  haven't  dreamed  anything  like  it  for 
years." 

"  Dreamed  ?  "  repeated  Fenton,  resuming  his  inter 
rupted  pacing  up  and  down  the  rug,  where  the  fire 
light  reddened  his  profile.  "  Does  that  mean  you  like 
it?— you'll  go?" 

"  Would  Cinderella  go  to  a  ball  ?"  replied  the  still 
incredulous  Grenville,  half  seriously.  "  What's  the 
joker,  old  chap?  What  is  the  worst  that  could  hap 
pen  at  the  midnight  stroke  of  twelve  ?  " 

Fenton  came  at  once  and  laid  his  hands  on  the  broad, 
bony  shoulders  of  his  friend. 

"  Have  I  ever  played  a  joker  with  you  yet?  "  said  he. 
"  Never  mind  the  apology.  I  forgive  you.  I  under 
stand  the  compliment.  Proposal  sounds  too  good  to  be 
true,  and  all  that  sort  of  rubbish.  The  fact  is,  old  man, 
I  want  you  to  go  to  Canton,  China,  and  bring  home  my 
affianced  bride.  That's  absolutely  all  there  is  to  the 
business.  You  need  the  change  and  voyage;  I  haven't 
the  time  to  go  out  there  and  fetch  her  myself.  Elaine 
is  alone  in  that  heathenish  country,  miserably  heartsick 
over  her  uncle's  sudden  death.  She  wishes  to  return  at 
once.  I  can't  let  the  poor  girl  come  alone.  I've  no  one 
in  the  world  but  you  I'd  care  to  send — and  there  you 
are." 

The  glow  departed  from  Grenville's  eyes.  His 
doubts  of  any  proposition  with  a  woman  in  the  case 
lurked  deep  in  his  level  gaze.  His  face  became  once 
more  the  rugged  mask  with  which  he  had  so  long  con 
fronted  a  world  persistently  gray.  The  smile  he  sum 
moned  to  his  lips  was  more  quizzical  than  mirthful. 

"  It  sounds  perfectly  simple,"  he  replied.  "  But — 
you  know  there  are  several  tales,  recorded  in  prose  and 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  3 

verse,  of  kings  who  have  sent  a  trusted  messenger  on 
precisely  such  an  errand.  The  joker  somehow  man 
aged  to  get  into  play." 

"  Just  so,"  agreed  Fenton,  readily.  "  Three  or  four 
times  in  a  thousand  cases  the  girl  and  the — er — mes 
senger  rather  thoughtlessly — well,  a  complication  arises. 
The  percentage,  however,  is  excessively  low.  We'll  con 
sider  that  a  negligible  possibility.  You  see,  I  know 
both  you  and  Elaine,  and  I  am  not  a  king.  The  ques 
tion  is — will  you  go?  " 

Grenville  was  always  amused  by  Fenton's  arguments. 

"  I  have  seen  no  statistics  on  the  subject,"  he  admit 
ted.  "  In  this  particular  instance  you  think  there  is 
not  the  slightest  danger  ?  " 

"  Of  finding  in  old  Sid  a  modern  Launcelot?  "  Fen- 
ton  turned  his  friend  about  till  both  of  them  faced 
down  the  length  of  the  room.  "  Well,"  he  added,  "  to 
be  sure — 

Grenville's  quick  glance  had  sped  to  the  massive  mir 
ror,  ten  feet  away,  where  both  himself  and  Fenton 
were  reflected  from  heels  to  crown.  He  comprehended 
in  a  glance  the  ill-clothed,  thin,  ungainly  figure  he 
presented :  his  big  hands  hanging  loosely  down,  his  face 
too  ruggedly  modeled,  too  sallow  for  attractiveness,  his 
hair  too  rebellious  for  order. 

A  Launcelot  indeed!  The  irony  of  the  situation 
struck  home  to  his  sense  of  humor. 

"  Have  a  look,"  continued  Fenton,  his  nervous  glance 
indifferent  to  his  own  athletic  fitness,  the  perfect  groom 
ing  of  his  person,  the  grace  and  elegance  of  his  tailor 
ing.  "  Do  you  discern  anything  of  the  disloyal  am 
bassador  in  that  hard-worked  friend  and  comrade  of  my 
happiest  years  ? "  His  eyes  gleamed  irresistibly. 


4  AS  IT  WAS 

"  You  sec,  old  chap,  you  have  trusted  an  invention  of 
perhaps  incalculable  worth  to  my  honor,  and  must  leave 
both  your  fame  and  possible  fortune  in  my  keeping 
while  you  are  long  away." 

"  Yes,  but—  -" 

"  I  know,  exactly.  This  is  the  sort  of  thing  you 
and  I  have  always  done  by  one  another.  I  had  no 
thought  of  refusing  your  trust  in  me,  and  so — I  have 
booked  your  passage  for  Wednesday." 

He  turned  again  to  the  mantel  and  began  to  fill  his 
pipe. 

Grenville  pivoted  slowly  and  rubbed  the  corner  of 
his  jaw. 

"  You  have — booked  my  passage — for  Wednes 
day?" 

Fenton  nodded.  "  Elaine  is  quite  desolate  and  lonely. 
You  need  immediate  sunshine  and  warmth,  and  can  do 
no  good  remaining  here.  Fine  day  all  round  for  start 
ing,  Wednesday,  and  no  boat  sailing  sooner.  There 
are  one  thousand  dollars  in  that  wad  by  the  statue  of 
Anubis,  for  your  outfit  and  incidental  cash." 

Grenville  glanced  mechanically  at  the  dog-headed 
god  of  the  ancient  Egyptians,  apparently  guarding  the 
money  towards  which  Fenton  had  waved  a  careless 
gesture. 

"  One  thou " 

"  If  it  isn't  enough,  draw  on  my  bankers  for  more," 
interrupted  Fenton,  puffing  at  his  calabash  industri 
ously.  "  I  have  written  Elaine  so  fully  you'll  have 
nothing  to  explain." 

"  By  George !  "  said  Grenville,  more  aggressively,  "  I 
like  your  nerve — the  way  you'd  plunge  me  into  trouble ! 
Do  you  think  I'm  a  mere  senseless  rack  of  wires  and 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  5 

bones  because  I'm  not  my  usual  self?  What's  to  pre 
vent  me  from  falling  head  over  heels —  What's  the 
rest  of  her  name — Elaine  what?  And  you  probably 
have  her  photograph  somewhere  among  your  pos 
sessions." 

"  Her  full  name,"  Fenton  answered,  moving  to  the 
desk  beside  the  mirror,  "  is  Elaine  Lytton — twenty-one 
this  month.  We've  known  each  other  seven  years." 
He  returned,  extending  a  small-sized  photograph. 
"  Fine  girl.  That's  her  picture.  Good  likeness — sent 
me  last  winter  from  China." 

Grenville  studied  the  photograph  superficially.  He 
used  it  to  tap  on  the  table  as  he  once  more  faced  his 
host. 

"  About  as  I  expected,"  he  announced  with  his  cus 
tomary  candor.  "  Nice-looking  girl — nothing  extra, 
perhaps,  but  nice  enough.  Now  tell  me  how  any 
healthy  male  friend  of  yours  can  guarantee  not  to  fall 
in  love  with  Elaine,  on  a  long,  lazy  trip  through  the 
tropics,"  and  he  cast  the  picture  from  him  towards  the 
lamp. 

Fenton  relighted  his  pipe.  "  Well,  suppose  he  did 
commit  the  folly  you  describe,  what  then  ?  " 

"  What  then?  "  echoed  Grenville,  incredulously.  "  By 
the  long,  curved  lashes  of  Juno's  eyes,  if  I  were  the  man 
you'd  certainly  see  what  then !  " 

"  All  right,"  said  the  imperturbable  Fenton.  "  I  ac 
cept  your  conditions,  fully,  and  about  your  outfit  I'd 
suggest " 

"  Hold  on !  "  interrupted  Grenville.  "  I  haven't  ac 
cepted  your  commission,  much  as  the  trip 

"  The  trip !  "  said  Fenton.  "  Ah !  that's  the  point ! 
I  insist  on  your  making  the  trip,  you  see,  and  taking 


6  AS  IT  WAS 

the  rest.  Fetching  Elaine  from  China  is  merely  inci 
dental — only  don't  forget  her  completely  and  come  back 
here  empty-handed."  He  sat  down  to  wrestle  with  his 
pipe. 

Grenville  looked  at  him  amusedly. 

"  Now,  see  here,"  he  said,  "  don't  you  make  the  slight 
est  mistake,  you  confident  old  idiot.  If  I  should  just 
happen  to  fancy  Elaine,  I  wouldn't  give  you  twenty 
cents  in  Mexican  money  for  your  chances  at  the  wed 
ding  bells  and  trimmings." 

"  Then  you'll  go ! "  Fenton  suddenly  exploded, 
springing  to  his  feet.  "  Come  on,  that's  settled — 
shake." 

But  Grenville  retreated  from  the  outstretched  hand, 
a  queer  smile  playing  on  his  features. 

"  Hang  your  infernal  self-conceit,"  he  answered ; 
"  you  don't  think  I  could  win  her  if  I  tried." 

"  I  don't  believe  you'll  try." 

"  That  isn't  the  point.  I  might.  If  I  loved  her  I 
would,  you  can  bet  your  final  shoe  peg !  Your  proposi 
tion  isn't  fair — subjecting  a  man,  and  a  friend  at  that, 
to  possible  temptation,  all  kinds  of  treachery,  and  a 
war  between  love  and  duty.  Rot  that  kind  of  duty !  I 
want  you  to  know  that  if  I  take  the  trip  and  happen 
to  fall  in  this  muddle  with  your  girl,  I'm  going  to  pitch 
your  infernal  old  duty  game  overboard  in  less  than 
two  seconds  and  go  in  and  win  her,  if  I  can !  " 

"Well,  what's  all  the  row  about,  after  that?"  in 
quired  Fenton  as  before.  "  Haven't  I  said  I  accept 
your  challenge?  Go  out  there  and  fetch  her,  that's 
all.  As  for  the  rest — win  her,  if  you  can ! " 

"  I  don't  say  I'll  try  to  win  the  girl.  I  may  not  like 
her  for  a  cent." 


"  Then  why  all  this  futile  argument  and  waste  of 
valuable  time?  " 

"  But  I  may — confound  your  egotistic  nerve,  and 
your  insistence!  And  I  warn  you,  Fen,  I  mean  every 
word,  in  case — 

"  I  understand — I  understand  you  fully,  without 
repetition,"  Fenton  once  more  interrupted.  "  For 
Heaven's  sake,  give  me  your  hand,  old  man,  and  cease 
firing." 

"  You  meant  it,  then — no  strings  on  the  proposi 
tion?" 

"  Not  a  string — absolutely  not  a  string." 

A  strange  new  thrill  of  pleasure  crept  into  Gren- 
ville's  being,  warming  his  thin,  anaemic  pulses  suddenly, 
as  he  met  Fenton's  gaze  and  once  more  permitted  his 
thoughts  to  dwell  on  all  the  proposal  embraced.  Since 
Fenton  refused  to  be  worried  concerning  himself  and  the 
girl  who  supplied  the  motive  for  the  trip,  then  why 
should  he  consider  it  further?  Elaine  was,  in  fact, 
swiftly  fading  from  his  reflections. 

All  his  nature  yearned  towards  the  tropic  seas.  All 
his  overwrought  frame  and  substance  ached  for  the 
long,  lazy  days  of  indolence,  rest,  and  recuperation 
that  alone  could  restore  him  to  himself.  He  had  al 
ways  longed  for  precisely  this  excursion  to  the  far-off 
edge  of  the  sphere.  His  faculties  leaped  to  the  new- 
made  possibility  of  a  contact  with  the  ancient  world, 
heretofore  so  wholly  inaccessible. 

Already  new  color  had  come  to  his  face  and  a  new 
blaze  of  fire  to  his  eyes.  Privations  and  toil,  those 
two  unsparing  allies  that  had  made  such  inroads  on  his 
health  and  strength,  seemed  fading  harmlessly  away. 
The  prospect  was  far  too  alluring  to  be  resisted.  There 


8  AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING 

was  no  good  reason  in  the  world  for  refusing  this 
favor  to  a  friend. 

The  brightness  of  face  that  had  ever  made  him  so 
lovable,  came  unbidden,  there  in  the  glow. 

"  I  suppose  I'll  have  to  go,"  he  presently  admitted, 
"  if  it's  only  to  win  your  girl." 

"  Shake,"  said  Fenton ;  and  they  shook. 


AN  UNEXPECTED  OUTBURST 

THE  sea  is  an  ancient  worker  of  miracles  in  amazing 
transformation,  but  rarely  does  it  bring  about  a  more 
complete  or  startling  metamorphosis  than  that  which 
was  wrought  upon  Grenville — trusted  messenger  for  a 
friend. 

Long  before  the  shores  of  Cathay  loomed  welcomely 
upon  his  vision  he  had  lost  all  sense  of  weariness  or 
depression,  and  likewise  all  that  worn  and  gaunt  ap 
pearance  of  a  large,  thin  frame  inhabited  by  a  dogged 
but  thoroughly  exhausted  spirit. 

He  was  once  more  his  strong,  bold,  interested  self, 
merry  of  speech,  bright-eyed,  untamed  in  his  buoyant 
nature,  lovable,  thoughtful  of  those  about  him,  im 
petuous,  and  never  to  be  repressed.  He  had  flirted  un 
interruptedly  with  all  the  old  women  and  the  children 
on  the  outward  voyage,  and  was  now  as  cheerfully  re 
peating  this  gay  performance  on  the  steamship  "  Inca," 
homeward  bound,  on  which  he  was  certainly  the  favor 
ite  of  the  crew  and  his  fellow-passengers. 

The  fortnight  passed  with  Elaine  upon  the  sea  had 
been  wholly  uneventful,  save  for  the  vast  commotion 
astir  in  Grenville's  being.  The  worst  that  could  hap 
pen,  he  told  himself,  had  happened.  His  daily  deport 
ment  towards  his  charge  had  baffled,  piqued,  and  amused 

9 


10  AS  IT  WAS 

that  young  lady  alternately,  and  convinced  her  that 
here  was  a  brand-new  specimen  of  the  genus  man  with 
which  she  had  never  had  a  genuine  experience. 

She  found  him  boyish,  unexpected,  apparently  in 
different,  and  even  unaware,  at  times,  of  her  existence 
on  the  vessel,  then  fairly  effervescent  with  deviltry  that 
left  her  all  but  gasping.  He  was  not  to  be  classified, 
fixed,  or  calculated,  save  in  certain  traits  of  fearless 
ness,  generosity,  and  kindness  to  those  most  needful 
of  a  helping  smile,  a  merry  word,  or  a  spell  of  relief 
from  daily  cares. 

He  commanded  a  certain  admiration  from  the  puzzled 
girl,  but  as  yet  her  actual  feelings  towards  him  were 
quite  unanalyzed.  She  was  constantly  finding  herself 
astonished  at  the  scope  and  variety  of  his  information ; 
she  was  glad  to  listen  when  he  talked;  she  was  fre 
quently  touched  to  the  very  heart  by  his  tender  care 
of  one  or  two  frail  little  beings  on  the  ship  to  whom 
much  of  his  time  was  devoted. 

There  they  were,  with  the  situation  between  them 
apparently  commonplace  to  dullness — till  this  one  par 
ticular  day. 

It  was  not  a  common  day  on  the  ocean.  Despite 
the  fact  he  was  neither  mariner  nor  meteorologist,  Gren- 
ville  felt  some  vast  disturbance  impending  in  all  the  life 
less  air,  regardless  of  the  fact  the  barometer  was  steady 
and  the  calm,  rainless  spell  had  been  exceptionally  pro 
longed.  It  was  not  precisely  a  premonition  that  ad 
dressed  itself  to  his  senses ;  it  was  something  he  could 
not  explain. 

A  wave  of  heat  passed  swiftly  through  his  body, 
leaving  a  strange  excitement  in  its  train,  as  he  paused 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  11 

for  a  second  to  wonder  if  the  "  symptoms  "  he  sensed 
were  concerned  not  at  all  with  sea  or  weather,  but 
wholly  with  Elaine. 

He  admitted  the  love — the  wild,  free,  passionate  love 
that  had  swept  him  away,  past  all  safe  anchorage,  with 
her  entry  into  his  existence.  He  had  made  no  effort 
to  conceal  it  from  himself,  to  deny  its  overwhelming 
force.  He  had  cursed  Gerald  Fenton  most  heartily 
and  consistently  for  casting  him  into  this  maelstrom 
of  conflicting  emotions,  and  daily  and  nightly  he  had 
waged  mighty  war  with  that  fortunately  absent  in 
dividual,  who  had  calmly  accepted  his  challenge. 

The  trouble  had  come  unbidden.  Elaine  was  so 
wholly  different  from  the  girl  represented  by  Fenton's 
photograph !  The  picture  had  seemed  so  lifeless — 
and  she  was  so  gloriously  alive!  That  one  fact  alone 
seemed  sufficient  excuse  to  Grenville  for  all  that  had 
happened  to  him  since.  He  had  not  been  fully  in 
formed,  he  argued,  respecting  her  wondrous  charms. 

The  two  weeks  mentioned,  with  Elaine  at  his  side,  had 
certainly  accomplished  the  world-old  complication  once 
more,  despite  all  his  hard  and  honest  struggling.  When 
the  fight  had  ceased  he  did  not  even  know.  What 
Elaine's  private  attitude  was  towards  himself  he  had 
taken  no  time  to  inquire.  That  part  mattered  less 
than  nothing  at  all — at  least  as  concerned  the  present. 
He  had  warned  old  Fenton  what  to  expect,  but  now — 
by  the  gods — how  deeply  he  was  mired  in  the  quan 
dary ! 

He  was  certainly  mighty  hard  hit,  he  confessed,  but 
meantime  was  equally  positive  that  the  singular  some 
thing  he  plainly  felt,  invading  the  air  and  telling  its 
message  to  some  faint,  imperfect  sense  of  his  being,  had 


12  AS  IT  WAS 

nothing  whatsoever  to  do  with  this  business  of  passion 
ate  emotions.  Yet  not  a  sign  of  uneasiness  on  the  part 
of  officers  and  crew  could  his  keenest  wit  discover,  in 
any  quarter  of  the  iron  craft  plowing  steadily  on  across 
the  sea. 

He  had  climbed  to  the  topmost  deck  of  the  ship, 
where  he  and  a  carpenter,  who  was  hewing  out  a  boat 
thwart  with  a  gleaming  adze,  were  temporarily  alone. 
It  was  not  Grenville's  manner  of  wooing  to  hover  beside 
Elaine  throughout  the  day  or  evening.  He  had  done 
no  wooing,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  beyond  assuming  a 
somewhat  bold  but  unoffending  guardianship,  which  she 
might  have  found  refreshing  had  it  not  so  frequently 
taken  her  breath  with  its  very  matter-of-f actness. 

At  the  present  moment,  as  Grenville  was  well  aware, 
she  was  somewhere  down  on  the  shaded  portion  of  the 
promenade,  where  the  erstwhile  stir  of  tropic  air  had 
ebbed  to  utter  sluggishness  and  finally  expired.  One  of 
the  purser's  young  assistants,  dressed  in  wrinkled  white 
duck,  was  dumbly  adoring  at  her  side. 

Impatiently  banishing  Fenton  from  his  thoughts, 
Grenville  gazed  idly  at  the  sultry  sky,  and  as  idly  at 
the  carpenter,  wielding  the  polished  adze.  When  a 
deckhand  presently  called  this  workman  away,  Grenville 
took  up  the  implement  left  behind,  felt  he  would  like 
to  swing  it  just  once  at  the  root  of  the  complication 
now  arisen  between  himself  and  his  distant  friend — on 
whose  money  he  was  voyaging — and  whose  sweetheart 
his  nature  demanded  for  a  mate — and,  replacing  the 
tool  on  the  weathered  planks,  he  thrust  both  hands  in 
his  pockets  and  paced  to  and  fro,  beside  a  pair  of  in 
verted  lifeboats  and  a  raft,  that  occupied  most  of  the 
deck. 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  13 

He  finally  flung  himself  down  on  a  hatch,  in  the  shade 
of  a  white-painted  funnel,  and  plunged  his  warring 
faculties  into  concentrated  study  of  a  problem  in 
mechanics  involved  in  a  new  invention.  On  the  back  of 
a  letter,  drawn  from  an  inside  pocket,  he  drew  black 
hieroglyphics,  that  to  him  were  wheels  and  levers  that 
relieved  his  state  of  mind. 

Absorption  claimed  him  for  its  own.  The  swift, 
weird  changes  of  the  sky  and  atmosphere  escaped  his 
engrossed  attention.  He  was  not  even  aware  of  her 
presence  till  Elaine  had  been  standing  for  fully  five 
minutes,  a  few  feet  only  from  his  side. 

When  he  looked  up  at  last  and  beheld  once  more  that 
singular  glow  and  beauty  in  the  depths  of  her  luminous 
eyes,  and  felt  the  subtle  flattery  involved  in  the  fact  she 
had  come  to  the  place  to  find  him,  seek  him  out,  a  flood 
of  tidal  passion  surged  to  his  outermost  veins. 

It  was  just  the  one  straw  too  much,  this  unforeseen 
encounter,  with  the  smile  upon  her  lips.  His  sturdy 
resolutions  all  went  down  in  utter  confusion  before 
the  wild  gladness  of  his  heart.  Yet  he  made  no  outward 
sign  for  Elaine  to  read. 

Calmly,  to  all  appearances,  he  placed  the  letter  in  his 
pocket. 

"  I  hope,"  said  Elaine,  "  I  haven't  disrupted  any 
thing  important." 

He  arose  and  gazed  at  her  oddly. 

'  You  have,  Elaine,"  he  answered,  in  a  voice  he 
strove  hard  to  control.  "  You've  not  only  disrupted 
everything  heretofore  moving  along  its  accustomed 
path  of  order,  law,  and  calm,  but  you've  also  upset  all 
sorts  of  established  institutions  and  raised  some  merry 
Hades." 


14  AS  IT  WAS 

A  spirit  of  the  lively  old  Nick  was  infusing  with 
his  youthful  blood  as  he  stood  there  gazing  upon  her. 
Elaine,  however,  either  failed  to  detect  its  presence,  or 
she  failed  to  understand. 

"I?"  she  said,  "Mr.  Grenville.  I'm  sorry.  What 
have  I  done?  " 

He  could  not  have  done  the  conventional  thing,  the 
deliberate,  calm,  or  expected  thing,  to  save  his  im 
mortal  soul.  His  nature  was  far  too  honest,  too  un 
abashed.  He  came  a  step  nearer — and  then  she  knew, 
but  she  could  not  have  moved  at  the  moment  had  death 
been  the  oncoming  penalty  for  remaining  where  she 
stood.  She  had  never  been  so  startled  in  her  life. 

They  two  were  absolutely  alone  and  unobserved.  Of 
this  the  impulsive  Grenville  was  aware — and  the  knowl 
edge  had  fired  a  certain  madness  in  his  being  he  was 
powerless  to  quell. 

"  Elaine,"  he  said,  as  he  suddenly  caught  her  un 
resisting  hands,  "  you've  put  old  Fenton  entirely  out  of 
the  game.  You're  going  to  marry  me." 

She  was  dimly  conscious  of  pain  in  her  hands,  where 
he  crushed  them  in  his  ardor.  But  her  shocked  sur 
prise  was  uppermost,  as  she  faced  him  with  blazing 
eyes. 

"Mr.  Grenville!"  she  said.  "Mr.  Grenville — 
you —  To  say — to  speak — — 

"  Elaine,"  he  interrupted  gayly,  bright  devils  danc 
ing  in  his  boyish  eyes,  "  it  simply  couldn't  be  helped. 
We  were  intended  to  meet — and  were  cut  out  for  one 
another.  So  the  hour  must  come  when  you'll  pitch  old 
Gerald's  ring  in  the  sea  by  order  of  the  very  Fates 
themselves ! " 

She  snatched  away  her  hands  in  indignation. 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  15 

"  For  shame !  "  she  cried  in  rising  anger,  her  whole 
womanly  being  aflame  with  resistance  to  all  his  grow 
ing  madness.  "  You  haven't  the  slightest  right  in  the 
world " 

"Right?"  he  repeated.  "Right?  I  love  you, 
Elaine !  I  love  you  !  Haven't  I  said 

"  Oh,  the  treachery — the  treachery  to  Gerald !  "  she 
cut  in,  with  swiftly  increasing  emotion.  "  To  say  such 
things  when  your  honor — 

"  Wait !  "  he  interrupted,  eagerly.  "  I  told  him 
what  he  might  expect  from  any  such  arrangement. 
I  warned  him  precisely  what  might  happen.  He  under 
stood — accepted  my  conditions — made  it  a  challenge 
— declared  if  I  tried  I  couldn't  win  !  And  now ' 

"  You  can't — you  can't ! — you  can't !  "  she  cried  at 
him,  angrily.  "  To  think  that  Gerald — to  think  you'd 
dare " 

He  suddenly  caught  her  in  his  arms  and  crushed 
her  against  his  breast.  He  kissed  her  on  the  mouth, 
despite  her  struggles. 

"  Elaine,"  he  said,  "  you  are  mine — all  mine — my 
sweetheart — my  comrade — my  mate !  " 

She  finally  planted  her  fists  against  his  throat  and 
thrust  him  from  her  in  fury. 

"  You  brute ! "  she  answered,  sobbing  in  her  anger. 
"  I  hate  you — I  loathe  you — despise  you  utterly !  I 
wish  I  might  never  see  your  face  again ! " 

"  I'll  make  you  love  me,  Elaine,"  he  answered,  white 
at  last  with  intensity  and  deep-going  passion.  "  111 
make  you  love  me,  as  I  love  you — as  madly — as 
wholly — as  wondrously — before  ever  we  two  get 
home." 

Already  Elaine  was  retreating  from  the  place. 


16         AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING 

"  Never ! "  she  answered,  wildly.  "  Never,  never, 
never! — do  you  hear? — not  if  it  takes  this  boat  a  hun 
dred  years ! "  And  gropingly,  almost  blinded  by  her 
sense  of  shame  and  rage,  she  fled  from  the  deck  and 
down  the  stairs,  leaving  him  shaken  where  he  stood. 


CHAPTER  III 

A    MIDNIGHT    TRAGEDY 

NOT  the  slightest  alarm  had  invaded  the  ship,  when 
Grenville  finally  urged  his  senses  back  to  the  normal, 
notwithstanding  the  unaccustomed  suddenness  with 
which  the  aspect  of  the  day  had  been  reversed. 

The  storm  broke  at  last,  about  one  in  the  afternoon, 
with  a  deluge  of  rain  and  an  onslaught  of  wind  that 
seemed  for  a  time  refreshing.  The  huge  steel  leviathan 
appeared  to  elevate  her  nose,  give  her  shoulders  a  shake 
that  settled  her  firmly  in  the  gray  disorder  of  the  ele 
ments,  and  then  to  accept  the  rude  old  contest  with  a 
certain  indifference,  born  of  well-established  prowess. 

By  two  o'clock  there  was  nothing  refreshing  sug 
gested.  A  dull,  stubborn  struggle  was  waging  in  the 
drab  of  a  wild  and  narrow  field  of  commotion.  Chill, 
musty  billows  of  air,  made  thick  by  something  that  was 
neither  scud  nor  mist,  pounced  heavily  upon  the  labor 
ing  "  Inca  "  in  a  manner  chaotic  and  irregular.  The 
sea  was  rising  sullenly,  its  waves,  like  tumultuous  co 
horts,  with  ragged  white  banners,  ceaselessly  advancing. 

With  an  easy,  monotonous  assurance  the  great  device 
of  steam  and  iron  plugged  steadily  onward.  It  could 
ride  out  a  sea  of  tremendously  greater  violence.  It 
knew  from  long  experience  every  crest  and  every  abyss 
of  these  mountains  of  air  and  water.  It  met  huge  im 
pacts  majestically,  with  a  prow  that  cleaved  them 

17 


18  AS  IT  WAS 

through,  while  its  huge,  wet  bulk  plowed  up  its  mileage 
with  a  barely  diminished  speed. 

Few  of  the  passengers  were  actually  alarmed.  A 
storm  evolved  so  suddenly,  they  were  confidently  in 
formed,  would  expend  itself  in  one  brief  spasm  of  im 
potent  fury  and  subside  almost  as  it  had  come.  It 
was  all  some  mere  local  disturbance  that  the  spell 
of  dry,  calm  weather  had  accumulated  too  swiftly  for 
any  save  a  violent  discharge. 

Discomfort  increased  to  a  certain  pitch;  locomotion 
about  the  saloon  became  impracticable.  The  crew  alone 
remained  upon  their  legs.  It  seemed  like  the  climax 
to  the  storm.  But  another  stage  swiftly  developed. 

It  might  have  been  somewhat  after  three  P.M.  when 
a  shroud  of  darkness  settled  from  the  heavens,  its  sub 
stance  foreign  both  to  cloud  and  sea.  It  was  thicker 
than  before,  and  decidedly  more  musty.  As  black  as 
night,  but  unrelated  to  all  ordinary  essences  of  dark 
ness,  it  wrapped  the  stormy  universe  in  Stygian  folds 
with  a  suddenness  strangely  disquieting. 

The  cataclysm  followed  almost  instantly,  as  if  from 
behind  a  concealing  curtain.  It  came  in  dimensions  in 
credible,  a  prodigious  wall  of  rumpled  water,  like  a  mo 
bile  mountain  chain.  It  towered  forbiddingly  above 
the  quivering  vessel  for  one  terrible  moment  of  threat, 
then  confusion,  utter  and  seemingly  eternal,  plunged 
roaringly  over  and  under  the  helpless  ocean  toy  of  steel, 
submerging  the  very  sea  itself  in  Niagaras  of  sound 
and  weight  and  motion. 

A  hideous  shudder  quivered  through  the  feeble  play 
thing  of  the  elements.  Strange,  muffled  thunderings, 
sensations  of  oblivion  sweeping  miles  deep  across  the 
ocean,  and  a  horrible  conviction  of  the  ship's  insig- 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  19 

nificance,  impressed  themselves  pellmell  upon  the  senses, 
while  ebon  blackness  closed  instantly  down,  like  annihila 
tion's  swift  accompaniment,  and  the  hull  seemed  sinking 
countless  fathoms. 

Such  a  moment  expands  to  an  aeon.  Doom  seemed 
an  old  acquaintance  when  a  complex  gyration,  a  sense 
of  being  flung  through  space,  and  a  reassertion  of  the 
engine's  throb  preceded  the  struggle  to  the  surface. 
Yet  it  seemed  as  if  no  miracle  of  buoyancy  and  might 
could  survive  till  the  great  steel  body  rose  once  more 
to  the  air.  Men  held  their  breath  as  if  they  must 
drown  if  the  top  were  not  immediately  achieved. 

A  stupendous  lurch,  an  incredible  list  to  starboard, 
another  streaming  by  of  immeasurable  torrents,  and 
the  steamer  wallowed  pantingly  out  into  daylight  once 
again,  to  flounder  like  a  thing  exhausted  till  she  steadied 
once  more  to  the  roll  and  pitch  of  the  former  storm- 
driven  sea. 

There  had  been  no  time  for  any  man  to  act  till  the 
monstrous  thing  had  come  and  gone  its  way.  As  help 
lessly  as  all  the  others,  Grenville  had  clutched  at  the 
table,  there  beside  Elaine,  while  death  passed  and  roared 
in  their  faces.  He  had  gone  to  her  chiefly  for  appear 
ances,  yet  quite  as  if  nothing  had  happened,  despite 
their  scene  above,  while  Elaine  had  issued  from  her 
stateroom  in  terror  of  the  storm.  It  was  not  till  new, 
sharp  sounds  of  activity  broke  on  his  senses,  from  above, 
that  Sid  left  her  side  and  went  to  inquire  concerning 
the  sum  of  their  damage. 

His  face  had  lost  a  shade  only  of  its  usual  cheerful 
ness,  when  he  finally  returned.  The  ship  was  rolling 
heavily,  fairly  in  the  trough. 

"  Our  rudder  is  gone,  with  six  of  the  lifeboats  and 


20  AS  IT  WAS 

as  many  men,"  he  told  his  charge,  whose  courage  he  had 
previously  gauged.  "  The  worst  is  undoubtedly  over. 
We  can  steer  with  the  screws,  sufficiently  to  make  the 
nearest  port." 

"  Our  rudder ! — half  a  dozen  men,"  Elaine  faintly 
echoed,  her  brown  eyes  ablaze  with  dread  and  sympathy, 
as  she  steadied  from  the  shock  of  Grenville's  news. 
"  What  was  it?  How  did  it  happen?  " 

"  A  tidal  wave.  There  must  have  been  a  huge  vol 
canic  disturbance,  doubtless  under  the  sea.  Or  it  may 
have  been  an  earthquake,  tremendously  violent. 
Nothing  else,  according  to  the  Captain,  could  account 
for  a  storm  so  sudden,  or  for  all  this  strange  thick 
ness  of  the  air.  He  is  confident  now  of  our  safety. 
The  storm  may  subside  in  an  hour." 

There  was  not  the  slightest  cessation  of  the  storm, 
however,  till  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening.  Even  then 
the  night  continued  thick  and  wild. 

Fortunately  the  sea  was  vast  and  deep.  There  was 
nothing  known  in  two  hundred  miles  on  which  the  ship 
could  blunder.  Hour  after  hour  the  crippled  "  Inca  " 
limped  erratically  onward,  buffeted  helplessly  here  and 
there,  and  scalloping  angry  abysses  of  darkness  and 
water,  as  first  one  screw  and  then  the  other  was  driven 
full  speed,  or  slowed  to  half,  or  reversed  altogether, 
to  hold  her  nose  to  the  altered  course  that  would  finally 
fetch  them  to  a  port  for  highly  essential  repairs. 

The  rage  of  the  elements,  abating  at  last  a  trifle, 
had  far  exceeded  the  Captain's  expectations.  And 
when  at  length  the  center  was  passed,  and  comparative 
ease  had  supervened,  the  wind  was  still  a  considerable 
gale,  while  the  sea  would  run  high  till  nearly  morning. 

The  passengers,  however,  were  sufficiently  assured  to 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  21 

retire  at  a  fairly  early  hour.  Elaine  had  readily  re 
sponded  to  Grenville's  matter-of-fact  instructions,  and, 
long  before  midnight,  was  fitfully  sleeping,  although  she 
had  not  undressed. 

When  eight  bells  struck  from  the  bridge  somewhere 
above  him,  Grenville  still  sat  on  the  edge  of  his  berth, 
rumpling  his  hair  with  one  vigorous  hand,  while  the 
other  prisoned  a  book  on  his  knee  with  a  piece  of  white 
paper  upon  it.  The  paper  was  literally  covered  with 
mechanical  designs  and  hieroglyphics,  involved  in  his 
latest  problem. 

He  arose  at  last,  removed  his  coat,  and  began  to 
fumble  with  his  tie.  His  eyes  were  fixed  upon  his  paper. 
The  problem's  spell  was  cast  again  upon  him.  He 
sank,  as  before,  to  his  inconvenient  seat,  and  drew  yet 
another  design. 

How  long  he  remained  there,  tranced  by  the  lines  that 
represented  levers,  gears,  and  eccentrics,  the  man  could 
never  have  stated.  He  was  dimly  subconscious  it  was 
time  to  go  to  bed,  and  from  time  to  time  one  hand 
would  return  to  his  collar.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  the 
hour  was  past  one  of  the  morning. 

Then,  of  a  sudden,  apparently  beneath  his  very  feet, 
the  frightful  thing  occurred. 

It  came  all  together — the  grinding  crunch,  the  colos 
sal  upheaval  of  the  ship's  great  belly  full  of  vitals,  the 
scream  of  iron  ripped  from  iron,  the  roar  of  steam 
from  broken  pipes,  and  the  tremor  of  death-throes, 
shuddering  thus  promptly  down  to  the  canted  bow  and 
stern  from  the  wedge-shaped  split  amidships. 

They  had  struck  on  a  rock,  upheaved  by  the  earth 
quake,  where  a  hundred  fathoms  of  crystal  brine  had 
existed  the  previous  noon ! 


22  AS  IT  WAS 

The  hideous  conviction  of  doom  and  horror  sped  as 
swiftly  as  the  shiver  of  destruction  to  the  farthest 
confines  of  the  vessel.  Screams  far  and  near,  hoarse 
bellowing,  a  shrill,  high  paean  of  mortal  fright,  and 
sounds  of  disordered  scurrying  followed  with  a  prompt 
ness  fairly  appalling. 

Grenville  waited  for  nothing.  As  well  as  the  most 
experienced  officer  on  board,  he  realized  the  significance 
of  the  impact,  the  ship's  awful  buckling,  and  the  quiver 
stilling  the  creature's  heart — the  engines  that  had  ceased 
at  once  to  throb. 

His  door  had  been  flung  widely  open.  Before  he 
could  reach  the  turning  of  the  corridor,  the  one  electric 
bulb,  left  glowing  for  the  night,  abruptly  blackened. 
But  he  knew  the  way  to  Elaine. 

He  seemed  to  be  plunging  through  a  torture  hall,  so 
hurtling  full  was  the  darkness  of  fearful  cries  and  con 
fusion.  The  broken  hulk  of  the  steamer  slightly 
lurched,  as  the  plates  broke  yet  farther  apart.  Sidney 
was  flung  against  a  cabin  wall,  but  he  righted 
and  pitched  more  rapidly  down  the  already  canted 
passage. 

"  Elaine !  "  he  called.     "  Elaine !  " 

"  Yes !  "  she  answered.  "  Yes  !  I  can't  get  out !  " 
She  was  not  at  all  in  a  panic. 

Someone,  a  man,  rushed  headlong  by  and  nearly 
bowled  Grenville  over.  He  was  spilling  golf  clubs  from 
a  bag  and  calling  for  the  steward. 

Grenville  caught  at  the  knob  of  Elaine's  hard-fastened 
door  and  threw  his  weight  upon  it.  A  stubborn  re 
sistance  met  his  effort.  The  frame  had  been  dis 
torted  by  the  splitting  of  plates  and  ribs.  The  wedg 
ing  was  complete. 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  23 

"  Stand  back ! "  he  called  out  sharply.  "  I  must 
break  it  in  at  once !  " 

He  knew  they  were  late  already — that  swarms  of  be 
ings,  nearer  the  exits,  were  wildly  pouring  from  the 
ship's  interior,  to  be  first  to  the  boats,  so  fatally  re 
duced  in  numbers. 

With  all  his  might  he  hurled  his  shoulder  against  the 
door,  that  merely  creaked  at  his  impotent  assault.  The 
hall  was  narrow.  He  could  gain  no  momentum  for  his 
blow.  The  second  and  third  attack  made  no  impres 
sion. 

A  clammy  sweat  exuded  from  his  forehead.  That  the 
sea  was  tumbling  torrentially  into  the  helpless  vessel 
he  knew  by  countless  indications.  Elaine  must  perish 
helplessly  in  her  trap,  could  he  not  immediately  force 
the  barrier.  He  suddenly  got  down,  full  length,  upon 
the  floor,  braced  his  shoulders  against  the  opposite 
cabin,  and,  with  knees  slightly  raised,  placed  both  his 
feet  against  the  door.  Then  he  strained  with  super 
human  strength.  The  door  remained  immovable,  but 
its  paneling  slightly  cracked. 

Meantime  the  shrieks,  the  shouts,  the  roaring  of 
steam,  and  the  terrible  chaos  of  destruction  had  in 
creased  to  a  horrifying  chorus.  The  corridor  was  fill 
ing  with  hot,  moist  vapor  from  the  burst  pipes.  A 
dozen  stokers  had  perished.  Fire  had  attacked  a  por 
tion  of  the  vessel  abaft  the  midships  section. 

Once  more,  with  a  wild,  fanatic  conjuring  of  energy, 
Grenville  spent  himself  upon  the  door — and  a  panel 
snapped  out,  flinging  little  splinters  on  Elaine.  In  a 
fury  of  desperate  activity  the  man  on  the  floor  beat 
out  more  with  his  driving  feet. 

"  It's  large  enough  !     It's  large  enough !  "  cried  the 


24  AS  IT  WAS 

girl  as  the  orifice  widened.     "  Don't  wait  to  break  it 
larger ! " 

She  was  now  fully  dressed,  having  swiftly  prepared 
for  any  sort  of  emergency.  A  candle,  provided  from 
her  bag,  was  glowing  in  her  hand. 

This  she  thrust  forth  for  Grenville  to  take,  and 
then,  with  deliberate  care,  she  wormed  her  way  out 
through  the  jagged  hole  with  the  confident  skill  of  a 
child. 

"  Not  there ! "  called  Grenville,  as  she  hastened  ahead 
to  gain  the  forward  companionway.  "Everybody's 
there,  all  fighting  for  their  lives !  " 

He  caught  her  actively  about  the  waist,  as  a  further 
lurch  and  settling  of  the  "  Inca  "  would  have  hurled 
her  to  the  floor.  Down  through  a  shorter  passage 
and  up  a  strangely  tilted  stair  he  drew  her  rapidly,  his 
heart  assailed  by  a  sickening  fear  of  what  their  delay 
might  have  cost  them.  Yet  less  than  five  minutes  had 
actually  passed  since  the  first  vast  shock  of  disaster. 

They  emerged  to  a  portion  of  the  slanted  deck  that 
seemed  to  be  utterly  deserted.  A  gust  of  wind  blew  out 
the  candle.  The  sky  was  clear.  An  uneven  fragment 
of  the  aging  moon  shone  dully  on  the  broken  ship, 
whence  fearful  sounds  continued  to  arise. 

Only  one  of  the  boats  had  been  dropped  to  the  tide — 
to  be  instantly  whirled  inside  the  parting  steamer,  on 
the  torrent  filling  her  mighty  belly,  where  the  latest 
lurch  had  laid  her  widely  open. 

Grenville  ran  to  the  starboard  rail  for  a  glance 
towards  the  struggle  farther  forward.  There,  about 
the  impotent  crew,  laboring  hotly  with  people,  boats 
and  davits  no  longer  adjusted  to  normal  working  order, 
the  wildest  confusion  existed. 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  25 

A  boat  that  hung  out  above  the  sea  was  filled  with 
screaming  beings.  Some  madman  arose  and  slashed 
with  maniacal  fury  at  the  rope  of  the  blocks,  to  hasten 
the  craft's  descent.  Of  a  sudden  its  bow  shot  per 
pendicularly  downward,  its  stern  still  high  in  the  air. 
Its  cargo  dropped  out  like  leaden  weights,  while  the 
empty  shell,  like  a  pendulum,  swayed  to  and  fro  above 
the  smothered  cries. 

To  join  such  a  throng  would  be  but  to  choose  a 
larger  company  in  which  to  perish.  Grenville  saw  that 
the  steamer  must  presently  drop  from  her  rock  and 
sound  illimitable  depths.  This  could  hardly  be  delayed 
for  more  than  ten  minutes  longer. 

A  sickening  qualm  assailed  his  vitals  at  the  thought 
of  Elaine,  doomed  to  drown  thus  helplessly,  along  with 
himself  and  the  others.  He  knew  that  not  only  were 
the  boats  insufficient,  but  there  was  no  time  left  to  load 
and  launch  them ! 

Then,  at  length,  he  remembered  the  life-raft  on  the 
roof.  Once  more,  with  his  arm  supporting  Elaine,  he 
clambered  up  a  tilted  stairway.  The  place  was 
deserted.  The  raft  was  there — but  securely  fastened 
to  the  planking,  fore  and  aft  and  at  the  sides !  The 
ropes  that  bound  it  down  were  thick  and  doubled ! 

With  his  knife  the  man  attacked  them  desperately. 
The  blade  broke  out  of  the  handle  when  one  strand  only 
had  been  severed.  His  second  blade  was  small  and 
useless  for  such  a  labor. 

He  groaned,  for  a  ghastly  tremor  was  seizing  the 
"  Inca  "  as  she  hung  above  some  crumbling  abyss  for 
a  final  plunge  to  the  bottom.  Then  the  moonlight 
gleamed  on  the  carpenter's  adze,  which  had  slid  down 
the  deck  to  the  railing.  He  darted  upon  it  like  an 


26         AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING 

animal,  and,  hastening  back,  swung  it  with  swift  and 
savage  blows  that  severed  the  ropes  like  cheese. 

"  Quick  !  Quick !  "  he  shouted  to  Elaine,  as  he  flung 
the  implement  from  him;  and,  catching  her  roughly 
about  the  waist,  he  bore  her  face  downward  beside  him 
self,  full  length  upon  the  raft. 

It  was  already  slightly  in  motion,  where  the  ship  was 
toppling  to  her  grave ! 


CHAPTER  IV 

THE  NIGHT AND  MORNING 

WITH  a  rattle  and  scraping  along  the  deck,  the  device 
with  the  two  prone  figures  desperately  clinging  to  its 
surface,  was  halted  and  tilted  nearly  level  as  it  struck 
a  spar  and  partially  mounted  upon  it. 

A  sudden  glare  lit  up  the  scene  where  the  fire  had 
burst  through  shattered  windows.  Screams  yet  more 
appalling  than  those  already  piercing  the  gale  arose 
with  the  movement  of  the  vessel.  A  picture  grotesque 
and  monstrous  was  for  one  awful  moment  presented. 
The  huge  iron  entrails  of  the  vessel  heaved  up  into 
sight  with  her  breaking.  Her  funnels,  masts,  and 
superstructure  pointed  outward,  strangely  horizontal. 
Innumerable  loose  things  rattled  down  the  decks.  She 
belched  forth  flame  and  clouds  of  steam,  against  which 
one  huge  iron  rib,  rudely  torn  on  its  end  to  the  sem 
blance  of  a  giant  finger,  seemed  pointing  the  way  to  in 
scrutable  eternity. 

The  lantern,  up  at  the  "  Inca's  "  masthead,  describ 
ing  an  arc  as  it  swept  across  the  heavens,  was  the  last 
thing  Grenville  noted.  He  thought  how  insignificantly 
it  would  sizzle  in  the  sea!  Then  he  and  Elaine,  with 
raft  and  all,  were  flung  far  out,  by  the  suddenly  accel 
erated  velocity  of  the  doomed  leviathan,  turning  keel  up 
wards  as  it  sank.  When  they  struck,  their  puny  float 
dived  under  like  a  crockery  platter,  shied  from  some 
Titanic  hand. 

27 


28  AS  IT  WAS 

With  all  his  strength  the  man  clung  fast  to  Elaine 
and  the  lattice-like  planking  of  their  deck.  It  seemed 
to  Grenville,  still  submerged,  he  could  never  resist  the 
force  of  the  waves  to  wash  them  backwards  to  death. 
It  appeared,  moreover,  the  raft  would  never  return  to 
the  top.  A  million  bubbles  broke  about  his  ears.  He 
felt  they  were  diving  to  deeps  illimitable. 

With  a  rush  of  waters  drumming  on  their  senses, 
it  shot  precipitately  upward  at  last,  till  air  and  spray 
greeted  them  together.  Then,  sucked  deep  under,  anew, 
and  backward,  by  the  gurgling  vortex  where  the  ship 
had  gone,  and  swirling  about,  pivoting  wildly,  as  the 
raft  now  threatened  to  plunge  edge  downward  to  the 
nethermost  caverns  of  the  hungry  sea,  they  met  a 
counter-violence  that  forced  it  once  more  towards  the 
surface. 

The  boilers  had  burst  in  the  steamer's  hold,  with 
confusion  to  all  those  tides  of  suction.  Erratically  div 
ing  here  and  there,  a  helpless  prey  to  chaotic  cross  cur 
rents  in  all  directions,  the  float  swung  giddily  in  the 
rnid  abyss,  while  the  water  walls  baffled  one  another. 

Elaine,  even  more  than  Grenville,  was  bursting  with 
explosive  breath  when,  at  length,  the  raft  came  twisting 
once  more  to  the  chill,  sweet  region  of  the  gale.  And 
even  then  strong  currents  drew  it  fiercely  in  their  wake 
before  it  rode  freely  on  the  waters. 

Dripping  and  gasping,  Grenville  half  rose  to  scan 
the  troubled  billows  for  companions  in  distress.  Not 
a  sound  could  he  hear,  save  the  swash  of  the  waves. 
Not  a  light  appeared  in  all  that  void,  save  the  distant, 
indifferent  stars. 

Elaine,  too,  stirred,  and  raised  herself  up  to  a  posture 
half  sitting.  She  was  hatless.  Her  hair  was  streaming 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  29 

down  across  her  face  and  shoulders  in  strands  too  wet 
for  the  wind  to  ravel.  Her  eyes  were  blazing  wildly. 

"  The  ship?  "  she  said.     "  What  happened?  " 

"  Sunk."  He  stood  up.  Their  platform  was  steady 
ing  buoyantly  as  it  drifted  in  the  breeze.  "  I  can't  even 
see  the  spot,"  he  added,  presently.  "  We  couldn't 
propel  this  raft  to  the  place,  no  matter  who  might  be 
floating." 

"  It's  terrible !  "  she  whispered,  faintly,  as  one  afraid 
to   accuse   the   Fates   aloud.     "  Couldn't   we   even — 
You  think  they  are  all — all  gone  ?  " 

"  I'll  shout,"  said  Grenvillc,  merely  to  humor  the  pity 
in  her  breast.  His  long,  loud  "  Halloo  "  rolled  weirdly 
out  across  the  wolf-like  pack  of  waves,  three — four — a 
half  dozen  times. 

There  was  not  the  feeblest  murmur  of  response.  Yet 
he  felt  that,  perhaps,  one  boatload  at  least  might  have 
sped  away  in  safety. 

"  God  help  them ! "  he  said,  when  the  silence  be 
came  once  more  insupportable.  "  He  only  knows  where 
any  of  us  are !  " 

"  After  all  we'd  been  through ! "  she  shivered  in  awe. 
"  If  only  we  two  were  really  saved —  Oh,  there  must 

be  land,  somewhere  about,  if  the  Captain  was  trying  to 
reach  a  port !  But,  of  course,  this  isn't  even  a  boat, 
and,  perhaps,  it  will  finally  sink !  " 

He  tried  to  summon  an  accent  of  hope  to  his  voice. 

"  Oh,  no ;  it  will  float  indefinitely.  It's  sure  to  turn 
up  somewhere  in  the  end." 

"  We  haven't  food — or  even  water,"  she  answered 
him,  understandingly.  "  What  shall  we  do  to-mor 
row?  " 

"  We  are  drifting  rapidly  northward.     We  may  ar- 


30  AS  IT  WAS 

rive  somewhere  by  to-morrow.  .  .  .  You'd  better  sit 
down.  It  taxes  your  strength  to  stand." 

"  God  help  us  all !  "  she  suddenly  prayed  in  a  broken 
voice,  and,  sinking  lower  where  she  sat,  was  shaken  by 
one  convulsion  of  sobbing,  in  pity  for  all  she  had  seen. 
She  had  no  thoughts  left  for  their  earlier,  personal  en 
counter. 

For  a  time  Grenville  stood  there,  braced  to  take  the 
motion  of  the  raft.  The  wind  continued  brisk  and  un- 
diminished.  Aided  by  tides,  which  had  turned  an  hour 
earlier,  to  flow  in  its  general  direction,  it  drove  the 
raft  steadily  onward  over  miles  of  gray,  unresting 
sea. 

The  water  slopped  up  between  the  slats  whereon 
Elaine  was  sitting.  She  was  cold,  despite  the  tropic 
latitude.  She  was  hopeful,  only  because  she  wished  to 
contribute  no  unnecessary  worry  to  the  man. 

Grenville  at  length  sat  down  at  her  side,  but  they 
made  no  effort  to  converse.  Elaine  was  exhausted  by 
the  sickening  strain  and  the  shock  of  that  tragic  end. 
For  an  hour  or  more  she  sat  there  limply,  being  con 
stantly  wet  by  the  waves.  She  attempted,  finally,  to 
curl  herself  down  and  make  a  pillow  of  her  arm,  and 
there  she  sank  into  something  akin  to  sleep. 

Gently  Grenville  thrust  out  his  foot  and  lifted  her 
head  upon  the  cushion  of  flesh  above  his  ankle.  The 
night  wore  slowly  on.  Three  o'clock  came  grayly  over 
the  world-edge,  where  the  waves  made  a  scalloped 
horizon. 

Slowly  the  watery  universe  expanded,  as  the  dawn- 
light  palely  increased.  By  four  Grenville's  gaze  could 
search  all  the  round  of  the  ocean,  but  nothing  broke 
either  sky  or  sea. 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  31 

Five  o'clock  developed  merely  color  on  the  water, 
but  no  sign  of  a  sail  or  a  funnel.  Elaine  still  slept, 
while  Grenville,  cramped  almost  beyond  endurance,  re 
fused  to  move,  and  thereby  disturb  her  slumber. 

But  at  six,  as  he  turned  for  the  fiftieth  time  to  scan 
the  limited  horizon,  he  started  so  unwittingly,  at  sight 
of  a  tree  and  headland,  flatly  erected,  like  a  bit  of 
sawed-out  stage  scenery,  above  the  waste  of  billows, 
that  Elaine  sat  up  at  once. 

"  It's  land  !  "  he  said.  "  We're  drifting  to  some  sort 
of  land ! " 

She  was  still  too  hazy  in  her  mind,  and  puzzled  by 
their  surroundings,  to  grasp  the  situation  promptly. 

"  Land  ?"  she  repeated.  "  Oh !  "  and  a  rush  of 
hideous  memories  swept  confusedly  upon  her  till  she 
shivered,  gazing  at  the  water. 

Grenville  had  risen  to  his  feet,  and  Elaine  now  rose 
beside  him.  Somewhat  more  of  the  flat,  wide  protrusion 
from  the  sea  became  thus  visible  to  both.  It  still  ap 
peared  of  insignificant  extent,  a  blue  and  featureless 
patch  against  the  sky,  with  one  half -stripped  tree  upon 
its  summit. 

"  I  should  say  it's  an  island,"  Grenville  added,  quietly, 
restraining  an  exultation  that  might  prove  premature. 
"  It  is  still  some  miles  away." 

"  There  must  be  someone  there,"  Elaine  replied,  with 
an  eagerness  that  betrayed  her  anxious  state  of  mind. 
"  Almost  anyone  would  certainly  help  us  a  little." 

What  doubts  he  entertained  of  some  of  the  island 
inhabitants  in  this  particular  section  of  the  world,  Sid 
ney  chose  to  keep  to  himself. 

"  It's  land !  "  he  said,  as  he  had  before.  "  That  means 
everything ! " 


32  AS  IT  WAS 

"  Do  you  know  of  any  island  that  ought  to  be  in 
this  locality?  " 

"  I  haven't  the  remotest  notion  where  we  are — ex 
cept  we  are  somewhere,  broadly  speaking,  in  the  neigh 
borhood  of  the  Malay  peninsula.  The  steamer  must 
have  drifted  tremendously  out  of  her  course  after  we 
lost  our  rudder." 

"  Have  you  been  awake  for  long?  " 

"  I  haven't  slept." 

"  Have  you  seen  or  heard  anything  of  any  of  the 
others?" 

"  Not  a  sign.  .  .  .  We  may  find  some  of  them, 
landed  on  this  island." 

He  had  no  such  hope,  and  this  she  felt.  She  sum 
moned  a  heart  full  of  courage  to  meet  the  situation,  how 
ever,  and  gazed  off  afar  at  the  misty  terra  incognita 
enlarging  imperceptibly  as  they  drifted  deliberately  on 
ward. 

"  It's  fortunate,"  she  said,  "  the  steamers  pass  this 
way." 

"  Yes,"  he  said,  unwilling  to  shake  this  solitary  hope 
that  brightened  her  uncertain  prospect,  but  he  knew 
they  were  leagues  from  the  nearest  track  that  the  ocean 
steamers  plowed.  "  And  I  trust  we'll  find  it  entirely 
comfortable  while  we're  waiting,"  he  added.  "  We're 
sure  to  get  dry  and  find  something  fit  to  eat." 

She  was  silent  for  a  moment.  A  sense  of  constraint 
was  returning  at  last  for  their  scene  of  the  previous 
day.  "  It  seems  to  be  rather  far  away,"  was  all  she 
said. 

"  About  another  hour — if  the  breeze  and  tide  con 
tinue  favorable." 

It  was  nearer  an  hour  and  a  half,  however,  before 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  33 

they  were  finally  abreast  the  headland  with  the  tree, 
and  swinging  and  turning  slowly  by  the  island's  coast 
on  the  surface  of  a  complicated  tide. 

The  features  of  the  land  had  developed  practically 
everything  usual  to  this  latitude  except  habitations  of 
men.  That  it  was  entirely  surrounded  by  water  was 
convincingly  established.  Indeed,  it  was  not  an  ex 
tensive  outcrop  of  some  ocean-buried  range,  and,  de 
spite  the  luxuriance  of  its  various  patches  of  green 
ery  and  jungle,  it  was  decidedly  rugged  in  forma 
tion. 

The  edge  past  which  the  raft  was  leisurely  floating 
was  a  broken  and  cavern-pitted  wall  of  rock  affording 
no  promise  of  a  landing.  Above  this  loomed  the  soli 
tary  tree  that  Grenville  had  seen  from  a  distance. 
Nothing  suggestive  of  hearth  smoke  arose  against  the 
sky  from  one  end  of  the  place  to  the  other. 

This  one  vital  fact,  in  her  excitement,  Elaine  entirely 
overlooked.  She  likewise  failed  to  note  the  look  of 
concern  that  Grenville  could  not  have  banished  from 
his  eyes.  The  prospect  of  reaching  a  dry,  firm  soil 
outweighed  her  immediate  worries. 

*'  Couldn't  we  paddle  in  closer?  "  she  said.  "  Where 
do  you  mean  to  land?  " 

"  Where  the  Fates  shall  please,"  he  answered,  grimly. 
"  Without  even  a  line  for  me  to  take  ashore  we  must  not 
be  over  fastidious." 

"  We  could  swim — if  we  have  to,"  she  told  him, 
bravely.  "  We  seem  to  be  floating  farther  out." 

They  were,  at  that  particular  moment.  The  power 
ful  current  carried  them  swiftly  seaward  a  considerable 
distance,  till  at  length  the  raft  was  drawn  to  a  species 
of  whirlpool,  some  two  hundred  yards  in  diameter,  the 


34  AS  IT  WAS 

inner  rim  of  which  was  depositing  weed  at  the  edge  of 
something  like  an  estuary,  indenting  the  shore  of  the 
island. 

On  the  huge  circumference  of  this  whirlpool  they  were 
finally  rounding  towards  the  one  bit  of  beach  that  Gren- 
ville  had  been  able  to  discover.  Yet  when  they  ap 
proached  within  almost  touching  distance  of  this  sun 
lit  strand,  the  current  failed,  permitting  the  breeze  to 
waft  them  again  towards  the  center. 

"  Stand  by  to  go  ashore,"  said  Grenville,  resolving 
suddenly  on  his  course,  and  overboard  he  slipped,  at 
the  float's  outer  edge,  and,  using  his  legs  like  a  power 
ful  frog,  he  pushed  at  the  raft  with  sufficient  force 
to  overcome  the  action  of  the  wind. 

For  a  moment  his  efforts  seemed  in  vain — and  then 
the  clumsy  affair  nosed  reluctantly  shoreward  an  inch, 
and  was  once  more  assisted  by  the  tide.  Ten  feet  out 
he  found  the  water  shallow  and,  planting  his  feet  on  the 
solid  sand,  drove  the  raft  at  once  to  the  estuary's  edge, 
where  Elaine  leaped  lightly  ashore. 

Some  startled  creature  slipped  abruptly  into  the 
pool  that  the  tiny  harbor  formed.  This  escaped 
Elaine's  attention.  A  moment  later  the  raft  rode 
scrapingly  over  a  bar  that  all  but  locked  the  inlet,  and 
Grenville  stood  dripping  on  the  sand. 

"  Welcome  to  our  city,"  said  he,  an  irrepressible  emo 
tion  of  joyousness  and  relief  possessing  him  completely 
at  the  moment,  and,  going  at  once  to  the  near-by 
growth,  where  a  long  stout  limb  had  been  broken  from 
a  tree,  he  dragged  this  severed  member  forth  to  the 
beach  and  across  the  estuary's  mouth,  where  it  effectu 
ally  blocked  the  channel  against  the  raft's  escape.  Then 
he  folded  a  couple  of  large-sized  leaves  with  his  hands, 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  35 

secured  each  with  a  slender  twig,  and,  giving  one  to 
Elaine  for  a  cap,  placed  the  other  upon  his  head. 

Elaine  was  no  less  relieved  than  he,  so  elastic  and 
buoyant  is  youth. 

"  The  villages  must  be  on  the  farther  side,"  she  said. 
"  What  language  do  you  suppose  the  natives  speak?  " 

"  Well — doubtless  some  Simian,  in  any  case,"  he  an 
swered,  having  fancied  one  movement  half  seen  in  the 
trees  beyond  was  made  by  an  ape  or  a  monkey.  "  I'd 
suggest  you  recall  your  fondness  for  fruit  for  break 
fast." 

She  comprehended  his  meaning  with  amazing  prompt 
ness.  Her  face  took  on  its  serious  expression. 

"  You  don't  believe  we  shall  find  the  island  inhab 
ited?  We  shall  have  only  fruit  this  morning?  " 

"  I  am  sure  we  shall  find  some  fruit,"  he  said,  "  and 
we  must  certainly  look  for  water." 

A  sense  of  helplessness  and  despair  attacked  Elaine 
momentarily.  She  began  to  wonder,  with  alarm,  how 
long  they  might  be  stranded  on  the  place — and  what 
attitude  Grenville  might  assume.  She  had  thoroughly 
comprehended  the  passion  of  his  nature  in  the  outburst 
she  had  seen.  A  sense  of  distrust  she  dared  not  show 
came  creeping  to  her  mind. 

"  We  must  make  the  best  of  it,  of  course,"  she  said, 
as  calmly  as  possible.  "  We  can't  even  light  a  fire,  I 
suppose." 

"  I  certainly  have  no  matches,"  he  answered,  cheer 
fully.  "  All  I  had  were  in  my  coat.  Suppose  we  ex 
plore  the  island  first  and  leave  despair  till  after  break 
fast." 

She  met  his  gaze  with  fearless  eyes  that  set  his 
heart  to  pounding. 


36         AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING 

"  I  shall  never  despair,"  she  answered,  more  bravely 
than  she  felt, — "  at  least,  I  shall  try  to  do  my  part,  till 
we  are  taken  off." 

He  understood  the  challenge  in  her  attitude. 

"  I  felt  that  from  the  first,"  he  answered,  easily. 
"  Perhaps  we'd  better  begin  by  climbing  up  to  the  head 
land." 

He  caught  up  a  short,  heavy  stick  and  turned  about 
to  force  a  way  up  through  the  rocks  and  tangled  growth 
between  the  shore  and  summit. 

And  what  a  figure  he  presented — even  to  the  fright 
ened  girl,  whose  anger  still  lingered  in  her  veins — 
stripped,  as  he  was,  to  his  shirtsleeves,  a  powerful,  active 
being,  masterful  and  unafraid.  With  a  strange,  dread 
ful  sense  of  isolation  and  the  primitive,  aye,  even  primal, 
conditions  in  which  they  had  been  cast,  she  followed 
helplessly  at  his  heels  for  their  first  real  look  at  the 
island. 


CHAPTER  V 

THE    ISLAND 

THE  ascent  was  steep  and  difficult,  so  unbroken  was 
the  undergrowth,  except  where  jagged  and  pitted  rocks 
rose  grayly  on  the  slope.  Bananas,  nut  palms,  and 
mangoes  Grenville  promptly  noted.  Indeed,  every 
tropical  tree,  shrub,  and  fruit  of  which  he  had  ever 
learned  was  represented  in  the  thicket,  together  with 
long,  snake-like  creepers,  huge  ferns,  and  many  plants 
with  which  he  had  no  acquaintance. 

There  was  abundant  life  in  all  directions.  Here, 
with  a  grunt,  and  beyond  with  a  bound  of  startled  sur 
prise,  some  animal  scuttled  to  cover  in  alarm  at  their 
approach.  A  small  flock  of  parrots  abruptly  arose, 
flashing  their  brilliant  plumage  in  the  sunlight  and 
screaming  raucously.  Half  a  dozen  leeches,  clinging 
firmly  to  the  fat,  green  leaves  next  the  ground,  where 
all  was  moist  and  shaded,  attracted  Grenville's  notice 
as  they  lifted  their  heads  and  groped  about  for  flesh 
upon  which  to  fasten. 

Here  and  there  in  the  tree  tops  a  monkey  obscured 
a  patch  of  sky  for  a  moment  and  chattered  or  squeaked 
a  warning  to  his  kind.  Grenville,  almost  wholly  con 
vinced  that  man  seldom  or  never  visited  the  place,  and 
puzzled  to  account  for  a  fact  so  extraordinary,  now 
emerged  at  the  edge  of  a  natural  clearing  and  promptly 
discovered  a  small  patch  of  sugar  cane,  reared  above 

37 


38  AS  IT  WAS 

the  grass  and  vines.  He  was  certain  that  man  had 
brought  it  to  the  island. 

A  half  minute  later  he  underwent  a  decidedly  com 
plex  set  of  emotions.  He  was  barely  five  feet  ahead 
of  Elaine,  who  was  following  blindly  in  his  trail,  a  prey 
to  new  dreads  of  all  the  sounds  about  them,  when  he 
halted  in  a  tense  and  rigid  attitude  of  alertness.  Elaine 
glanced  quickly  ahead. 

Apparently  a  patch  of  orange  sunlight  was  lifting 
from  the  grass.  Then  Elaine,  too,  saw  the  black,  ir 
regular  stripes,  the  huge,  topaz  eyes,  and  the  lazy  move 
ment  of  a  mighty  shoulder  muscle,  as  the  beast  before 
them  arose  and  blocked  their  path. 

It  was  not  the  fact  that  he  had  rarely  if  ever  seen  a 
tiger  so  large  that  most  impressed  the  man,  thus  unex 
pectedly  confronted  by  this  unfrightened  monarch  of 
the  island — the  brute  bore  a  collar  about  his  neck, 
gleaming  with  gold  and  the  facets  of  some  sort  of 
jewels! 

He  had  obviously  once  been  a  captive !  He  knew  the 
form  of  man,  if  not  his  nature! 

For  a  moment  or  more  there  was  absolute  stillness  in 
that  grassy  arena,  where  two  world-old  enemies  stood 
face  to  face  in  their  first,  preliminary  contest  of  cour 
age.  A  certain  arrogance,  a  contempt  of  all  possible 
adversaries,  here  in  his  undisputed  realm,  shone  unmis 
takably  in  the  eyes  of  the  motionless  brute.  His  paunch 
was  rounded  significantly.  He  had  recently  dined. 

Grenville  could  think  of  but  one  thing  to  do,  unarmed 
as  he  was,  and  unwilling  to  compromise  an  encounter 
so  vitally  important. 

He  let  out  a  shout  such  as  a  demon  might  have  ut 
tered,  and,  rushing  madly  forward,  with  his  club  up- 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  39 

raised,  yelled  again  and  again,  his  aspect  one  to  strike 
terror  to  the  heart  of  a  giant.  He  was  almost  upon  the 
astonished  tiger  when  the  brute  abruptly  fled.  The 
roar  the  great  beast  delivered,  as  he  bounded  from 
sight  in  the  jungle,  was  the  sullen  note  of  a  creature 
that  obeys,  reluctantly,  the  command  of  one  superior 
to  himself. 

"  Now,  then,  a  little  discretionary  haste,"  said  Gren- 
ville,  quickly  returning  to  Elaine.  "  I  prefer  the  top  of 
the  rocks." 

But  she  did  not  move,  so  helpless  was  her  will  and  so 
rigid  all  her  being.  Once  more,  with  his  arm  about  her 
waist,  Sidney  firmly  urged  her  forward,  on  a  beaten 
trail  he  took  no  time  to  study. 

It  led  in  a  tortuous  manner  up  the  last  steep  acclivity, 
where,  with  every  rod,  the  growth  became  less  luxuriant, 
and  the  rocks  more  thickly  strewn.  Thus  they  pres 
ently  came  upon  a  second  natural  clearing,  a  sort  of  un 
even  terrace,  some  fifty  feet  lower  than  the  dominating 
headland  crowned  by  the  solitary  tree. 

The  trail  to  this  final  eminence  was  plainly  scored 
along  a  narrow,  crumbling  ledge,  where  the  volcanic 
tufa,  comprising  the  ancient  upheaval,  had  for  years 
disintegrated  in  a  honeycomb  fashion  that  left  all 
the  bowlders  and  even  the  walls  deeply  pitted. 

When  they  turned  about  together  on  this  dominating 
mount,  the  island  lay  mapped  irregularly  beneath  them 
in  the  purple  sea,  revealed  well-nigh  in  its  entirety. 

In  all  its  expanse  there  was  not  a  sign  of  a  human 
habitation. 

They  knew,  without  a  word  of  argument,  they  were 
absolutely  alone  on  this  tropic  crumb  of  empire,  sole 
survivors  of  the  frightful  wreck,  completely  ignorant 


40  AS  IT  WAS 

of  their  whereabouts,  and  surrounded  not  only  by  sav 
age  and  inimical  jungle  brutes,  but  also  by  some  mys 
tery  that  was  not  to  be  understood. 

"  Well,"  said  Grenville,  presently,  "  such  as  it  is,  it's 
ours." 

"  Ours,"  said  Elaine.  A  cold  little  shiver  ran  along 
her  nerves,  at  thoughts  of  her  plight  between  the  man 
she  had  called  a  brute,  and  the  still  more  savage 
creatures  of  the  jungle.  "  Where  are  you  going?  "  she 
added,  as  Grenville  moved  away. 

"  To  look  about  for  a  moment,"  he  replied,  "  and 
then  I  must  pick  some  breakfast." 

The  examination  of  the  hilltop  was  promptly  con 
cluded.  It  proved  to  be  a  flat,  uneven  plateau  of  small 
dimensions,  with  precipitous  walls  on  every  side,  except 
where  the  trail  led  downward.  Much  loose  rock  was 
scattered  on  its  surface.  Three-quarters  of  its  boun 
dary  rose  perpendicularly  out  of  the  sea.  The  re 
mainder  plunged  down  into  jungle  greenery,  and  the 
natural  clearing  that  lay  between  two  dense,  rank 
growths  on  either  side.  Not  far  from  the  center  of  the 
table-rock  a  fair-sized  cave,  that  bore  unmistakable 
signs  of  former  occupancy  and  fires  once  ignited  on  its 
floor,  afforded  a  highly  acceptable  shelter,  both  from  the 
sun  and  the  elements.  It  occupied,  of  course,  a  posi 
tion  that  could  be  readily  and  easily  defended. 

There  were  other,  smaller  caverns  close  at  hand,  but 
none  with  a  whole  or  unpierced  roof.  Fragments  of 
broken  clay  utensils  lay  scattered  about,  together  with 
the  whitening  bones  of  small-sized  animals  that  had 
one  time  served  some  denizens  for  food.  There  was 
nothing  in  or  about  the  principal  cave  of  which  Gren 
ville  could  make  the  slightest  use. 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  41 

The  view  of  the  island  from  this  point  of  vantage 
was  not  particularly  encouraging.  Midway  of  its 
rugged  bulk,  that  jutted  from  the  azure  tides,  and  on 
the  side  directly  opposite  the  estuary,  another  wall  of 
rock  loomed,  gray  and  barren,  above  the  tops  of  the 
trees.  Behind  this,  at  the  island's  farthest,  left-hand 
extremity,  a  third  "  intrusion  "  of  volcanic  stuff  rose 
to  a  height  only  barely  lower  than  this  whereon  the  raft- 
mates  stood.  It  was  not,  however,  flat. 

A  portion  only  of  the  estuary  was  visible — the  outer 
bay,  where  the  raft  was  plainly  floating.  Save  for 
areas  covered  with  rock  and  brush  together,  the  re 
maining  surface  of  the  island  appeared  to  be  thickly 
grown  to  jungle,  the  forest  comprising  foliage  of  in 
finite  variety. 

With  Elaine  walking  silently  at  his  side,  afraid  to  be 
with  him,  yet  more  afraid  to  be  alone,  Grenville 
passed  from  this  hasty  examination  of  the  island's  gen 
eral  topography  to  a  closer  inspection  of  the  perpen 
dicular  scarp  of  the  terrace.  On  the  seaward  side  it  rose 
about  one  hundred  feet  above  the  mark  of  high  water. 
Its  right  front  appeared  to  overhang  its  base,  a  reassur 
ing  distance  above  the  highest  tree.  Across  its  entire 
bulk  at  this  place  the  cliff  had  once  been  cracked,  and  a 
"  slip  "  had  formed  a  ragged  shelf.  Then  came  the 
slope  where  the  trail  was  worn,  beyond  which  forty  feet 
or  more  of  unscalable  tufa  was  reared  above  a  section  of 
the  jungle  once  devastated  by  fire. 

In  the  midst  of  this  section,  being  rapidly  reclaimed 
by  vines  and  creepers,  stood  the  shell  of  a  huge  old  tree, 
the  heart  of  which  had  been  consumed,  from  the  roots 
to  its  blackened  top,  leaving  walls  still  thick  and  solid. 

"  Well,"  said  Sidney,  returning  again  to  the  prin- 


42  AS  IT  WAS 

cipal  cave,  which  he  reinspected  critically,  "  it  doesn't 
take  long  to  overlook  our  possessions.  You'd  better  be 
gin  to  make  yourself  at  home,  while  I  go  below  for 
fodder,"  and,  taking  up  his  club  from  a  ledge  where 
he  had  let  it  fall,  he  went  at  once  down  the  long- 
abandoned  trail  and  out  across  the  clearing. 

Elaine  had  followed  to  the  scarp,  where  she  watched 
till  he  disappeared.  How  helpless  she  was  in  the  hands 
of  this  man,  whose  declaration  and  deeds  had  so 
aroused  her  indignation  and  hatred,  she  thoroughly  un 
derstood.  A  sickening  conviction  that  days  might 
elapse  before  she  could  hope  to  escape,  increased  her 
sense,  not  only  of  alarm,  but  also  of  distrust  in  Gren- 
ville.  His  action  in  taking  up  his  stick  had  not  escaped 
her  attention.  Strangely  enough,  a  horrible  pang  went 
straight  to  her  breast  as  she  suddenly  thought  of  that 
tiger  again — and  of  what  it  might  mean  if  Grenville 
never  returned.  Whatever  else  might  happen,  nothing 
could  be  so  terrible  as  to  perish  here  alone.  She  tried 
to  assure  herself,  however,  that  Grenville  was  thor 
oughly  competent  to  cope  with  the  dangers  of  the  place. 

Yet  the  silence  of  the  jungle  where  she  had  seen  him 
disappear,  oppressed  her  unendurably.  Not  even  a 
tree  was  shaken,  to  indicate  where  he  had  gone.  Sum 
moning  all  her  resolution,  she  returned  to  the  cavern, 
alone. 

A  slab  of  rock,  once  doubtless  employed  for  a  table, 
lay  with  one  end  resting  on  the  earth,  while  the  other 
leaned  upon  a  second  rock,  against  the  wall  of  the  cave. 
She  lifted  this  slab  to  a  second  prop,  then  blew  the  last 
fragment  of  dust  and  sand  from  its  surface,  by  way  of 
preparing  it  for  breakfast.  She  looked  about,  long 
ing  for  further  employment,  but,  inasmuch  as  two  rude 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  43 

fragments  of  the  rock  already  reposed  beside  her  table 
for  seats,  there  was  absolutely  nothing  more  she  could 
add,  either  by  way  of  utensils  or  furnishings,  from  the 
boulders  scattered  loosely  on  the  terrace. 

When  she  thought  of  leaves,  whereon  to  serve  what 
fruits  the  jungle  might  surrender,  she  started  briskly 
for  the  trail — but  halted  at  its  summit.  A  horror  of 
unknown  things  that  might  be  lurking  at  the  thicket's 
edge  impressed  itself  upon  her.  Nevertheless,  she  shook 
it  off,  and,  descending  rapidly,  soon  filled  her  arms  with 
large,  clean  "  platters  "  from  a  rankly  growing  plant 
of  the  "  elephant's  ear  "  variety,  then  clambered  back  to 
her  eerie. 

Two  of  the  leaves  she  dropped  at  the  bend  of  the 
trail  and  left  them  there  in  the  sun.  Twice  after  that 
she  returned  to  the  edge,  to  search  all  the  greenery  for 
Grenville.  Her  uneasiness  respecting  his  long  absence 
was  rapidly  increasing  when  she  turned  once  more 
toward  the  cave.  He  emerged  at  that  moment  from  the 
farther  thicket  of  the  clearing,  came  unobserved  to  the 
winding  trail,  and  discovered  the  leaves  she  had 
abandoned. 

He  was  amazingly  "  loaded  "  with  similar  leaves  for 
breakfast  purposes,  as  well  as  with  fruits,  and  a  singular 
bowl  of  water,  yet  he  paused,  with  a  smile  upon  his  lips, 
to  discard  every  leaf  he  had  provided,  in  order  that 
Elaine's  thoughtful  effort  at  assistance  might  not  be  in 
the  least  belittled. 

She  met  him  just  as  he  came  to  the  top,  and  began 
to  take  a  portion  of  his  burden. 

"  Oh,"  she  said,  "  you've  found  water — or  is  it  the 
juice  of  the  melon?" 

"  Water,"   he   answered,   moving  towards   the   cave. 


44  AS  IT  WAS 

"  The  bowl  is  half  of  a  paw-paw,  which,  next  to  that 
spring  itself,  is  the  welcomest  thing  I've  discovered." 

She  was  glad  to  note  bananas  among  his  several 
fruits,  but  she  made  no  further  observations.  More  and 
more  her  sense  of  constraint  increased,  as  she  clearly 
foresaw  her  dependence  upon  and  intimate  association 
with  this  man,  who  had  overstepped  the  bounds  of  honor 
to  his  friend,  and  to  whom  she  had  spoken  in  such  anger. 

Breakfast  was  soon  begun.  Elaine  consumed  all  she 
could  relish  of  the  fruits,  although  neither  the  loco 
(loquet,  a  yellowish  sort  of  plum),  the  guava — green 
and  full  of  seeds — nor  the  custard  apple,  which  was 
somewhat  sickishly  sweet,  appealed  irresistibly  to  her 
fancy. 

She  drank  from  a  leaf,  curled  up  to  form  a  cup,  and 
found  the  water  decidedly  refreshing  and  agreeable, 
despite  the  fact  it  was  slightly  flavored  by  the  juices 
of  the  paw-paw  shell  in  which  it  had  been  served. 

Grenville  leaned  back,  when  his  appetite  was  thor 
oughly  appeased,  and  began  to  empty  his  pockets.  He 
produced  the  remains  of  his  broken  knife,  a  few  loose 
coins,  a  ring  of  keys,  a  pig-skin  purse  with  several 
pieces  of  gold  as  its  contents,  the  stub  of  a  pencil,  and 
his  watch,  which,  by  great  good  fortune,  was  water 
proof,  and  still  in  good  running  condition,  despite  its 
several  immersions. 

Elaine  was  watching  his  movements,  puzzled  to  guess 
his  intent. 

"  Taking  stock,"  he  said,  presently,  "  by  way  of  fac 
ing  the  situation  and  formulating  plans.  .  .  .  These 
trifling  chattels  are  all  I  possess  in  the  world — our 
world,  at  least — with  which  to  begin  certain  labors. 
You  probably  haven't  even  hairpins." 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  45 

Elaine  had  coiled  her  hair  upon  a  twig.  She  shook 
her  head,  and  faintly  resented  his  allusion  to  the  island 
as  a  sort  of  partnership  property. 

Grenville  began  to  segregate  his  belongings. 

"  Money,  keys,  pencil,  and  watch — all  mere  encum 
brances,  absolutely  worthless.  One  broken  knife — in 
valuable.  We  shall  require,  as  soon  as  possible,  water- 
jugs,  basins,  cooking  utensils,  something  to  make  a  fire, 
implements  to  chop  our  fuel,  some  primitive  weapons, 
and  tools  with  which  to  fashion  a  boat.  I  must  lose  no 
time  in  exploring  beyond  the  spring.  I  have  found 
nothing  yet  that  will  especially  lend  itself  to  our  uses." 

Elaine's  brown  eyes  were  very  wide.  "  You  expect 
to  remain  here  long  enough  to  build  a  boat,  when  the 

raft •  I  know  it  can't  be  rowed,  of  course,  but — 

couldn't  you  try  a  sail?  " 

"  We  couldn't  sail  it  in  its  present  form,"  he  an 
swered,  "  even  if  we  knew  which  direction  to  take  when 
we  started.  With  a  small,  swift  boat  we  might  venture 
a  few  explorations  from  the  island  as  a  base." 

She  was  silent  for  a  moment,  and  grave. 

"  You  haven't  much  faith,  then,  in  hailing  some  pass 
ing  steamer?  " 

"  I  think  it  wiser  to  prepare  against  a  probable  wait 
that  may  be  rather  long."  He  read  and  understood  her 
impatience  with  the  situation — a  situation  rendered  in 
finitely  more  complicated  and  delicate  by  what  he  had 
dared  to  say  and  do  the  previous  afternoon. 

Once  more  black  dreads  that  she  dared  not  permit  to 
reveal  themselves  completely  arose  to  engulf  her  mind. 
She  could  not  doubt  that  Grenville  knew,  far  better  than 
herself,  how  meager  were  their  hopes  of  immediate 
rescue  or  escape  from  this  exile  in  the  sea.  More  than 


46  AS  IT  WAS 

anything  else,  however,  she  wished  to  be  worthy  of 
and  loyal  to  the  man  to  whom  her  plighted  word  had 
been  given.  That  she  owed  so  much  to  Grenville  al 
ready  was  an  added  irritation.  A  braver,  finer  spirit 
than  she  summoned  to  her  needs  never  rose  in  a  woman's 
breast. 

Her  eyes  met  his  with  a  cold  look  of  resolution  in 
their  depths. 

"  I  know  you  will  show  me  how  to  help.  I  must  do 
my  share  in  everything.  Can  you  tell  how  long  it  must 
have  been  since  anyone  was  here?  " 

Grenville  had  never  thought  her  finer — never  loved  her 
so  madly  before.  Yet  he  quelled  the  merry  demons  of 
his  nature. 

"  No,"  he  replied,  as  he  took  in  his  hand  a  bit  of  bone, 
bleached  cleanly  white.  "  I  can't  even  understand  why  an 
island  so  abundantly  supplied  with  fruits  and  game,  to 
say  nothing  of  useful  woods  and  the  like,  should  be  so 
utterly  abandoned.  There  seems  to  be  nothing  wrong 
with  the  place,  and  much  that  is  quite  in  its  favor." 

"  Perhaps  that  tiger,"  she  suggested. 

Sidney  shook  his  head.  "  It's  something  that  goes 
a  bit  deeper — at  least,  there  may  once  have  been  some 
thing  sinister.  The  natives  of  all  this  part  of  the  world 
are  rather  accustomed  to  tigers." 

Her  sense  of  divination  was  exceedingly  keen. 

"  You  think  there  is  something  worse?  You  haven't 
already  encountered  something  more — 

"  Nothing,"  he  hastened  to  interrupt.  "  The  prob 
lem  of  our  daily  existence  affords  our  greatest  present 
cause  for  concern — and  I  frankly  admit  I  considerably 
relish  the  prospect  of  proving  we  are  equal  to  all  that 
our  situation  may  demand." 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  47 

She  was  not  to  be  satisfied  so  readily. 

"  But  there  may  be  something  wrong  with  the 
island?" 

"  Possibly — from  a  native's  point  of  view." 

"  But — you  are  almost  certain  to  meet  that  tiger 
again." 

"  All  the  more  reason  for  getting  to  work  at  once." 
He  arose  in  his  quick,  active  manner,  and  once  more 
surveyed  their  camp. 

"  A  few  rocks  piled  in  your  doorway,"  he  continued, 
"  and  your  cave  will  meet  your  requirements  admirably. 
I  should  say  mine  would  better  be  this  small  retreat, 
the  roof  of  which  I  can  readily  restore.  It  is  close 
enough  to  be  neighborly,  and  is  nearer  the  head  of  the 
trail." 

The  smaller  cave  thus  indicated  occupied  a  position 
suggestive  of  a  sentry's  box,  before  precincts  to  be 
guarded.  Its  opening  faced  the  gateway  of  the  trail, 
while  its  size  was  sufficient  for  the  needs  of  any  primitive 
man. 

Elaine,  who  had  mechanically  followed  Grenville  from 
the  shelter,  looked  resignedly  about.  She  had  failed 
till  now  to  think,  concretely,  of  actually  remaining,  per 
haps  night  after  night,  in  such  a  place. 

"  It  was  terrible !  "  she  said,  " — the  accident — every 
thing  ! — terrible  !  "  She  suddenly  thought  of  the  threat 
he  had  made — to  compel  her  to  love  him  as  he  loved  her, 
before  they  should  reach  their  home — and  shivered  anew 
at  the  unforeseen  predicament  in  which  she  was  plunged, 
and  hated  him  more  than  before. 

"  Bad  business,"  he  answered,  briefly,  "  but  at  pres 
ent  the  task  before  us  is  to  cut  a  lot  of  grass  and  strew  it 
about  on  the  rocks  to  dry." 


48         AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING 

He  opened  the  stubby  blade  of  his  knife,  glanced  at 
it  ruefully,  and,  selecting  a  bit  of  stone,  began  to  whet 
its  edge.  But  he  halted  the  action  abruptly. 

A  low,  weird  sound,  like  a  human  wail,  came  from 
somewhere  over  behind  them. 


CHAPTER  VI 

VARIOUS  DISCOVERIES 

THE  sound  had  no  sooner  died  on  the  air  than  a  sec 
ond,  far  louder,  and  far  more  uncanny  in  its  suggestive- 
ness  of  someone  in  mortal  pain,  followed  piercingly,  up 
around  the  rock,  and  rang  in  their  startled  ears. 

The  third  sound  more  resembled  a  scream.  It  was 
immediately  succeeded  by  a  chorus  of  hideous  cries  and 
moans,  singularly  distressing.  They  rose  to  a  pitch  in 
credible  ;  they  seemed  to  involve  every  accent  of  human 
grief  and  torture,  and  to  wrap  the  rock  escarpment  com 
pletely  in  an  agonizing  appeal. 

This  chorus  sank,  but  a  haunting  solo  of  wailing 
arose  as  before,  to  be  followed  again  by  the  air-splitting 
scream,  and  at  length  once  more  by  the  mingling  of 
many  dreadful  voices. 

The  island  exiles  glanced  at  one  another  inquiringly, 
Elaine  blanched  white  with  awe. 

"  By  Heavens ! — it  can't  be  human,"  Grenville  mut 
tered,  as  the  programme  recommenced  with  only  a  slight 
variation. 

To  Elaine's  dismay  he  started  for  the  cliff. 

"  Mr.  Grenville ! "  she  cried,  and  helplessly  followed 
where  he  went. 

The  wail  was  dying,  in  a  horrid  series  of  feebler 
repetitions,  when  Grenville  came  to  the  edge  of  the  wall 
and  peered  down  below  at  the  water. 

49 


50  AS  IT  WAS 

There  was  absolutely  nothing  to  be  seen  in  any  di 
rection.  The  direful  sounds,  fast  progressing  once 
more  to  that  nerve-destroying  climax,  appeared  to 
issue  from  a  natural  cove,  a  little  along  to  the 
left. 

Grenville  continued  around  the  edge,  to  a  point  di 
rectly  above  them.  But  here,  as  before,  there  was 
nothing  in  all  the  sea  suggestive  of  boats  or  beings. 
The  tide,  Grenville  thought,  ran  in  and  out  with  par 
ticular  force,  reversing  at  a  certain  point,  and  per 
forming  singular  movements  in  a  basin  of  hollowed 
stone. 

Elaine  had  paused  behind  him,  a  rod  or  more  from 
the  brink.  He  waited  deliberately  for  all  the  cycle 
of  sounds  to  be  repeated,  then  turned  away  with  a 
smile. 

"  I  think  we  have  come  upon  the  explanation  of  the 
island's  uninhabited  condition,"  he  informed  the  girl,  as 
he  came  once  more  to  her  side.  "  Those  noises  are  made 
by  the  sea,  forcing  air  to  some  cavern  in  the  cliffs.  It 
is  doubtless  repeated  twice  a  day  at  a  certain  stage  of 
the  tide." 

"  It's  horrible !  "  Elaine  replied  in  dread,  as  a  feebler 
rehearsal  of  the  chorus  filled  all  that  tropic  breeze, 
"  simply  horrible  !  " 

"  It  may  be  our  greatest  bit  of  good  fortune,"  Gren 
ville  informed  her,  sagely.  "  I  much  prefer  those  sirens 
to  a  colony  of  Dyaks  who  might  otherwise  live  on  the 
place." 

44  We  shall  have  to  endure  it  twice  a  day?  " 

"  Possibly  not.  I  may  be  entirely  mistaken,  concern 
ing  that.  I  can  only  be  certain  it  is  caused  by  the  tide, 
and  is,  therefore,  not  to  be  dreaded." 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  51 

For  fully  ten  minutes,  however,  the  tidal  conditions 
were  favorable  to  the  sound's  continuance.  It  subsided 
by  degrees,  the  last  moaning  notes  possibly  more  sug 
gestive  than  the  first  of  beings  perishing  miserably. 

Meantime  Grenville  had  gone  indifferently  about  the 
business  of  cutting  huge  armfuls  of  the  tall  grass  and 
ferns  abundantly  supplied  in  the  clearing.  This  moist 
and  not  unfragrant  material  Elaine  in  silent  helpful 
ness  carried  to  the  top  of  the  terrace,  where  she  spread 
it  about  on  the  rocks.  She  was  certain  Grenville  was 
providing  far  more  than  they  could  use  in  reason,  yet 
although  his  stubby  knife-blade  was  a  poor  tool,  indeed, 
for  the  business,  he  toiled  away  unsparingly,  blithe- 
somely  whistling  at  his  task. 

"  You  may  be  glad  by  nightfall  to  burrow  into  a  stack 
of  this  hay,"  he  told  Elaine  as  he  brought  the  last  load 
up  the  trail.  "  If  you  wouldn't  mind  turning  it  over 
from  time  to  time  I  think  I'll  look  about  again  to  get 
an  idea  of  the  island." 

Elaine  had  as  little  inclination  to  remain  on  the  ter 
race  alone,  with  all  manner  of  worries  respecting  Gren- 
ville's  safety,  as  she  had  to  follow  where  he  would 
lead  through  the  shades  and  thickets  of  the  jungle. 
She  was  aware,  however,  her  presence  at  his  side  would 
be  more  of  a  care  than  assistance ;  while  the  necessity 
for  his  explorations  addressed  itself  clearly  to  her  mind. 
She  made  no  confession  of  her  natural  wish  to  see  him 
returning  promptly. 

He  departed,  with  his  club  in  hand,  quite  certain  he 
should  not  be  gone  above  an  hour.  He  had  not,  how 
ever,  reckoned  with  the  jungle. 

Despite  the  fact  he  had  set  his  mind  on  the  region 
about  and  beyond  the  spring,  the  flow  of  which  formed 


52  AS  IT  WAS 

the  estuary,  some  wonder  respecting  the  area  once  black 
ened  and  cleared  by  fire  attracted  his  attention  immedi 
ately  upon  his  descent  from  the  hill. 

Through  a  fringe  of  scrub  he  forced  his  way  to  this 
region  close  under  the  walls,  discovering  old,  charred 
stumps,  many  dead  saplings,  and  quantities  of  half-con 
sumed  branches,  affording  a  large  supply  of  fuel. 
There  could  be  no  doubt  the  fire  had  raged  within  the 
previous  year.  Human  visitors  of  some  complexion  had 
come,  left  this  scar,  and  departed. 

Hopeful  of  some  enlightening  sign  as  to  who  or  what 
they  might  have  been,  he  searched  the  earth  about  and 
between  the  shrubs  and  grasses  with  considerable  care. 
Not  so  much  as  a  bone,  however,  rewarded  his  scrutiniz 
ing  gaze.  He  came  to  the  tree  trunk  left  hollow  by 
the  flames,  and  paused  to  marvel  at  its  size.  Above  his 
head  it  was  four  feet  through,  while  the  base  was  cer 
tainly  eight.  An  arch  had  been  formed  in  its  sub 
stance,  near  the  ground,  and  into  this  he  curiously 
peered. 

Kneeling  thus  on  the  earth,  he  was  readily  enabled  to 
look  straight  up  through  and  out  at  the  top.  The  hol 
low  in  the  stout  old  jungle  champion  was  fully  two  feet 
in  diameter,  and  almost  perfectly  round.  There  was 
nothing  else  of  interest  to  be  found  about  the  place, 
save  a  huge,  smooth  log,  lying  with  one  end  resting  on 
a  rock,  and  long  enough  to  make  a  splendid  boat. 

Attempting  the  passage  of  the  jungle  from  this 
point  across  to  the  midway  wall  of  tufa,  Grenville  ex 
pended  fully  fifteen  minutes  of  the  toughest  sort  of 
effort,  and  was  then  obliged  to  retreat  once  more  to 
the  trail.  He  encountered  here  the  first  wild  animal  dis 
covered  since  his  meeting  with  the  tiger. 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  53 

It  was  a  porcupine,  bristling  with  trouble  for  any  at 
tacking  beast.  Grenville  could  have  slain  it  with  his 
club.  He  was  fairly  on  the  point  of  providing  this 
much  meat  for  the  sadly  empty  larder,  when  the  fact 
that  he  could  ignite  no  fire  deterred  his  ready  weapon. 
He  thought,  in  that  extremity,  of  his  watch,  the  crys 
tal  of  which  might  serve  to  give  him  a  white-hot  spark 
from  the  sun. 

Trusting  the  porcupine  might  await  the  result  of  his 
quick  experiment,  he  lost  no  time  in  submitting  the  glass 
to  a  trial.  It  formed  a  ring  of  brilliant  light  on  the 
back  of  his  hand,  but  the  rays  would  not  come  to  a 
focus. 

"  Go  thy  ways,"  he  said  to  the  porcupine,  and  he 
continued  at  once  on  his  own. 

Observing  the  trail  more  closely  than  he  had  on  his 
earlier  excursion,  he  presently  discovered  a  divergence 
to  the  left  that  led  towards  the  central  wall  of  stone. 
Here  he  frightened  a  considerable  troop  of  monkeys 
that  swung  in  a  panic  of  activity  through  the  avenues 
of  foliage  overhead.  There  were  likewise  sounds  of 
heavier  beasts  that  escaped  observation  on  the  moist 
and  thickly  cumbered  earth. 

The  trail  under  foot  was  rather  well  worn,  and  not, 
the  man  was  certain,  by  the  hoofs  or  feet  of  brutes. 
The  explanation  was  presently  forthcoming,  at  least 
in  part,  for  the  path  emerged  at  a  clay  pit  that  lay 
against  the  frowning  tower  of  stone. 

Grenville  could  have  shouted  for  joy  as  he  took  a  bit 
of  the  smooth,  sticky  substance  in  his  hand,  and  began 
thus  promptly,  in  his  fancy,  making  pots  and  jugs 
innumerable  to  meet  their  every  need.  The  deposit  had 
been  previously  worked.  The  evidence  of  this  was  un- 


54,  AS  IT  WAS 

mistakable.     But  none  of  the  tools  employed  by  former 
craftsmen  had  been  left  for  Grenville  to  discover. 

He  spent  some  time  investigating  all  the  mute  signs 
of  former  activity  expended  at  the  pit,  and  finally 
glancing  up  at  the  cliff  above,  abandoned  all  thought  of 
conquering  its  summit,  and  retraced  his  steps  along  the 
trail. 

Where  the  path  to  the  spring  made  a  second  fork,  he 
continued  straight  on  through  the  jungle.  One  glance 
only  of  the  estuary,  tortuously  penetrating  the  waist 
of  the  island,  was  vouchsafed  him  through  the  thicket. 
Beyond  this  point,  in  swampy  ground,  flourished  a  for 
est  of  giant  bamboo.  The  creepers  and  vines  in  that 
immediate  section  were  particularly  varied  and 
abundant.  The  bird  life  was  equally  impressive.  Hun 
dreds  of  swallows  were  skimming  in  the  air,  a  number  of 
argus  pheasants  wildly  fled  from  the  visitor's  presence, 
parrots  screamed  and  wheeled  in  huge  flocks  above  the 
light  green  bamboo  foliage,  and  several  fine  flamingoes 
made  shift  to  find  concealment  in  the  reeds. 

"  It's  a  haunted  paradise,"  Grenville  muttered  to 
himself,  his  thought  having  gone  for  a  moment  to  the 
wails  and  moans  that  had  startled  himself  and  Elaine. 

Regretting  that  his  broken  knife  was  a  wholly  in 
adequate  implement  with  which  to  assail  such  a  bamboo 
stem  as  he  would  gladly  have  taken  to  the  camp,  he 
was  once  more  making  his  way  from  the  thicket  when 
his  foot  crashed  audibly  through  something  brittle,  on 
the  earth. 

He  parted  the  shrubbery  and  uttered  a  low  exclama 
tion.  He  had  stepped  upon  a  human  skeleton,  white 
and  suggestively  huddled,  every  fragment  of  it  perfect 
— except  that  it  lacked  a  head. 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  55 

In  a  certain  sort  of  anxiety  Grenville  searched  about 
to  find  the  missing  member.  The  skull  was  not  to  be 
discovered.  Persuading  himself  this  might  be  ac 
counted  for  by  many  natural  explanations,  and  resolv 
ing  to  keep  his  discovery  entirely  to  himself,  he  forced 
his  way  around  this  grewsome  inhabitant — and  came 
upon  another. 

This  one  he  did  not  strike  with  either  foot.  It  lay 
outstretched  before  him,  in  company  with  scattered 
and  broken  bits  of  rock — and,  like  its  neighbor,  it  was 
headless. 

Had  some  monstrous  head-hunter  written  "  Dyaks  " 
on  all  the  empty  lattice  of  those  human  ribs,  Grenville 
could  not  have  been  more  convinced  of  what  this  busi 
ness  meant.  He  returned  to  the  trail  accompanied  by 
a  sense  of  dread  that  all  but  sent  him  back  to  Elaine. 
His  thought  was  entirely  of  her,  and  of  their  help 
lessness,  cast  thus  alone  upon  this  unpeopled  island, 
clean  stripped  of  weapons  and  of  all  things  else  save 
their  wits  and  bodily  strength. 

"  We've  got  to  escape,"  he  told  himself  in  a  new,  swift 
fever  of  impatience.  "  There  is  not  an  hour  to  lose ! " 

He  continued  on  through  the  jungle  towards  the  hill 
at  the  farther  end. 


CHAPTER  VII 

A    GREWSOME    GUARDIAN 

APPARENTLY  the  trail,  that  had  once  been  formed 
through  the  axis  of  the  island,  had  been  found  of  little 
use.  It  was  overgrown  by  all  manner  of  plants  well- 
nigh  to  extinction. 

The  region  hereabout  was  obviously  the  final  retreat 
of  many  beasts,  both  timid  and  bold.  Grenville  found 
signs  of  at  least  one  Malay  bear  and  of  many  wild  hogs 
in  the  thickets.  He  fancied  he  saw  one  flash  of  mov 
ing  orange,  where  either  his  tiger  or  another  of  his  ilk 
moved  silently  through  the  growth  behind  him.  Of  the 
monkeys  there  appeared  to  be  no  end ;  and  the  snakes 
were  amply  represented. 

He  was  glad  for  every  clearing  that  he  came  upon 
and  crossed,  and  felt  a  decided  sense  of  relief  on  achiev 
ing  his  hill  at  last.  This  worn  old  eminence  of  rock 
and  substances  volcanic  was  far  more  steep  and  rugged 
than  the  one  where  he  had  left  Elaine.  It  possessed 
no  caves,  and  no  particular  flatness  at  the  summit. 

Grenville  explored  it  rapidly,  considerably  disap 
pointed  to  find  nothing  of  special  utility  upon  its  broken 
surface.  He  had  hoped  for  some  hard  and  useful 
stone  at  least,  if  not  for  actual  flints.  Completing  its 
round  in  a  haste  that  the  rapidly  increasing  heat  of  the 
day  considerably  accelerated,  he  presently  came  upon 
an  unusual  ledge  protruding  from  the  slope's  unpromis 
ing  surface. 

56 


57 

Here  he  halted  in  idle  curiosity.  The  ledge  was  of 
sulphur — a  blow-out  from  the  hill's  once  molten  in 
terior,  lying  untouched  and  useless  in  the  sun  for  the 
elements  to  wear  away  and  sluice  at  last  to  the  sea. 
With  no  particular  purpose  in  view,  he  broke  away  a 
fragment,  dropped  it  carelessly  into  his  pocket,  and  con 
tinued  on  his  way. 

His  gaze  returned  with  a  certain  steadfast  eagerness 
to  the  hill  and  camp  beyond.  He  was  not  precisely  dis 
appointed  on  failing  to  discover  Elaine,  who  might  have 
been  waiting  to  wave  him  a  signal  from  the  heights ;  he 
was  somewhat  concerned  to  know  if  all  was  well  upon 
her  rock.  She  was  not  to  be  seen  at  all  about  the  place. 
He  clambered  to  the  top  of  a  broken  bowlder  for  a 
view  more  comprehensive. 

This,  too,  appeared  a  wasted  effort,  at  least  as  con 
cerned  Elaine.  The  island  map,  however,  was  laid  out 
before  him  in  a  manner  to  complete  his  former  survey  of 
the  place.  There  were  several  clearings  thus  revealed 
that  could  never  be  seen  from  the  farther  point  of1 
vantage. 

Acknowledging  each  of  these  in  turn,  Grenville  was 
once  more  about  to  direct  his  footsteps  homeward  when 
one  of  the  smaller,  near-by  breaks  in  the  jungle, 
quite  at  the  top  of  a  species  of  rift  in  the  island's 
ruggedness,  down  upon  his  left,  attracted  a  second 
glance. 

For  a  moment  he  fancied  some  colossal  remains,  as  of 
an  animal  long  since  extinct,  were  lying  there  in  the 
clinging  embrace  of  the  creepers.  He  decided,  then,  it 
was  a  boat,  but  dismissed  this  notion  as  preposterous,  so 
high  above  the  water's  edge,  and  so  near  the  island's 
center,  did  it  lie.  About  ready  to  conclude  that  cer- 


58  AS  IT  WAS 

tain  giant  shadows  contributed  much  to  round  out  a 
half-imagined  form,  his  gaze  encountered  a  bowsprit 
thrust  through  all  the  foliage,  its  identity  not  to  be 
mistaken.  The  hull  of  a  ship  was  undoubtedly  there. 
He  hastened  down,  expectantly,  to  make  its  better  ac 
quaintance. 

The  wonder  when  he  came  there  was — how  it  came  to 
be  stranded  so  high  and  far  above  the  water.  As  for 
the  vessel  itself,  it  was  merely  a  rotted  old  shell,  with  its 
cargo  bursting  through  its  ribs. 

So  far  as  Grenville  could  judge  from  its  fast-decay 
ing  remains,  it  had  been  an  inferior  type  of  the  old- 
fashioned  barque,  and  of  very  modest  dimensions.  Its 
masts,  however,  were  gone,  together  with  every  ac 
cessible  piece  of  metal  that  eager  hands  could  remove. 
Its  moldy  and  slimy  old  cabin  had  partially  collapsed. 
Without  effecting  an  entrance  through  the  treacherous 
deck,  Sidney  could  discover  nothing  respecting  its  in 
terior. 

He  could  peer  through  the  ribs  at  several  places  along 
the  hull,  and  even  near  the  keel,  by  stooping  low,  but 
the  most  he  could  determine  by  such  a  superficial  exam 
ination  was  that  there  was  nothing  even  here  that  he 
could  use.  The  cargo  he  thought  for  a  moment  to  be 
chalk,  or  lime.  He  scraped  a  clean  sample  from  the 
weathered  heap,  and  rubbed  it  in  his  palm.  Its  crys 
talline  structure  was  not  that  of  either  lime  or  chalk. 
When  he  placed  a  particle  on  his  tongue,  he  dropped 
all  he  held  with  no  further  interest. 

The  stuff  was  common  saltpeter.  That  the  vessel  had 
been  westward  bound,  perhaps  from  Borneo,  with  this 
mineral  common  to  so  much  of  that  tropical  section,  he 
understood  at  once.  But  to  find  her  stranded  thus  so 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  59 

loftily  was  amazing.  He  scraped  at  the  soil  with  the 
toe  of  his  boot  to  dig  below  the  surface. 

As  he  had  rather  expected,  seashells  and  pebbles  of 
a  former  beach  were  readily  brought  to  view.  Some 
old  upheaval  had  undoubtedly  lifted  beach,  vessel,  and 
all  to  this  altitude  above  the  tides,  and  left  it  there  to 
decay. 

Considerably  disappointed  to  find  the  hulk  so  com 
pletely  stripped  of  the  metal  furnishings  of  which  he 
might  have  wrought  some  sort  of  tools  or  weapons, 
Grenville  hesitated  between  an  impulse  to  continue  home 
to  Elaine  without  greater  delay,  and  a  strong  desire  to 
investigate  the  cabin  of  the  barque.  The  latter  tempta 
tion  was  not  to  be  resisted. 

He  grasped  the  branch  of  an  overhanging  tree  and, 
by  dint  of  much  active  scrambling,  clawing,  and  thrust 
ing  his  toes  into  various  chinks,  at  length  gained  the 
planks  of  the  slanted  deck  and  broke  his  way  into  the 
one-time  sanctum  of  the  captain  and  his  mates. 

This,  too,  had  been  pillaged  with  exceptional  thor 
oughness.  There  was,  however,  a  passageway  leading 
to  another  apartment  beyond,  where  a  door,  half  open, 
was  revealed  by  sunlight  streaming  through  the  broken 
roof.  Thither  Grenville  made  his  way — to  behold  an 
extraordinary  sight. 

The  place  was  a  room,  partitioned  off  from  consider 
ably  larger  quarters.  It  contained  one  object  only — a 
form,  half  mummy,  half  skeleton,  that  had  once  been  a 
powerful  man.  And  this  was  chained  to  the  wall! 

It  was  sitting  propped  against  the  lintel  of  a  sec 
ond  door,  a  panel  of  which  was  raggedly  broken  out. 
It  had  never  been  robbed  of  its  head.  A  strong,  black 
beard  still  remained  upon  the  emaciated  face,  and  the 


60  AS  IT  WAS 

eye-sockets  stared  straight  forward  at  the  door  by 
which  the  visitor  had  entered. 

Grenville  was  not  to  be  easily  dismayed,  yet  the  at 
titude  of  this  grewsome  thing  was  very  far  from  being 
pleasant.  The  being  had  been  almost  naked  when  he 
perished  here  alone  with  a  heavy  iron  band  about  his 
waist.  All  this  his  visitor  swiftly  discerned  while  in 
clined  to  turn  about  and  flee  the  place.  He  discov 
ered,  then,  an  additional  mystery. 

The  skin,  in  a  patch  fully  six  inches  square,  had  dis 
appeared  from  the  helpless  being's  breast.  That  it  had 
not  wasted  away  by  a  natural  process  was,  moreover, 
perfectly  obvious,  since  the  square-cut  edges  of  parch 
ment,  which  the  remainder  of  his  cuticle  had  become  by 
the  mummifying  process,  were  distinctly  to  be  seen.  It 
had  been  removed  with  a  knife.  It  appeared  to  Gren 
ville  that  the  captive  had  been  propped  artificially 
where  he  sat,  as  if  to  guard  the  passage.  A  trickle  of 
water,  saturated  with  saltpeter,  had  served  to  embalm 
both  his  flesh  and  skin,  in  part. 

That  the  cabin  beyond  had  likewise  been  despoiled  of 
its  treasure  was  almost  a  foregone  conclusion.  How 
ever,  Sidney  stepped  closer  to  the  silent  form  and 
peered  through  the  broken  panel. 

The  room  into  which  he  was  gazing  was  dimly  lighted 
by  the  rays  of  daylight  filtering  through  a  number  of 
cracks  which  the  weather  had  opened  in  its  ceiling. 
When  his  sight  grew  accustomed  to  the  darkness,  he 
saw  that  the  place  had  evidently  served  not  only  as 
quarters  for  the  former  crew,  but  likewise  as  a  storage 
hold  for  ropes,  paints,  extra  furnishings,  and,  doubt 
less,  victuals. 

Its  contents   lay  scattered  about  in   confusion   and 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  61 

decay,  yet  promised  more  "  treasure "  for  Grenville's 
needs  than  all  the  rest  of  the  vessel.  He  drove  his 
shoulder  against  the  door,  and  its  lock  broke  the  rotted 
woodwork  away  with  a  suddenness  the  man  had  not  ex 
pected.  He  passed  the  mummified  guardian  at  the  por 
tal  somewhat  hurriedly,  as  he  lurched  inside  the  cham 
ber  ;  and  he  nearly  fell  across  a  box  that  had  spilled 
out  a  dozen  old  pieces  of  brass. 

Upon  these  he  pounced  with  avidity,  despite  the  fact 
they  were  greenly  incrusted  with  "  rust."  Among  other 
articles  of  plunder  thus  provided  to  his  hand  were  several 
row-locks,  a  broken  turnbuckle,  a  dozen  at  least  of  use 
less  hinges,  and  a  hatful  of  screws  more  or  less  cemented 
together. 

With  vague  ideas  of  employing  the  metal  somehow,  he 
filled  his  pockets  with  the  smaller  articles  and  looked 
about  for  possible  tools.  From  a  broken  locker  in  a 
corner  much  similar  scrap  stuff  had  fallen.  Here  was  a 
large  brass  porthole  rim,  parts  of  a  broken  binnacle, 
half  of  the  brazen  cap  from  a  towing-bit,  two  heavy 
bronze  handles  of  swords  now  fallen  to  pieces  with  de 
cay,  an  old  brass  lantern  with  a  useless  lamp,  a  large 
coil  of  excellent  copper  wire,  a  ball  of  lead,  and  re 
mains  of  several  iron  marlinespikes,  mere  effigies  now  in 
flaky  rust. 

From  beneath  a  heap  of  rotted  cordage  a  greenish 
cylinder  protruded.  Grenville  drew  it  forth.  It 
proved  to  be  a  small  brass  cannon,  unmounted,  and  ap 
parently  filled  with  mud.  Near  by  he  discovered  the 
rapidly  disintegrating  remnants  of  an  old-time  flint 
lock  musket.  This  was  a  priceless  treasure,  for  the 
flint,  which  was  still  intact.  He  likewise  saved  a  bit  of 
the  steel  that  the  cordage  had  protected. 


62         AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING 

The  thin  and  wasted  skeleton  of  a  hand-saw  hung 
upon  a  hook.  When  he  took  the  blade  between  his 
fingers  it  fell  apart  like  paper,  charred,  but  still  hold 
ing  its  original  form.  Not  an  object  he  found  of  iron 
was  worth  removing  to  the  camp.  Resolved  to  return  at 
an  early  date,  to  annex  the  old  cannon  and  such  other 
heavy  bric-a-brac  as  he  could  not  conveniently  carry 
away  to-day,  Grenville  finally  left  the  mysterious  dead 
man  still  sitting  in  chains  beside  the  door,  and  once 
more  regained  the  wholesome  earth. 

He  finally  glanced  at  his  watch.  The  time  was 
nearly  twelve !  He  had  been  for  at  least  three  hours 
away  from  Elaine,  who  was  waiting  alone  upon  the  hill ! 
Back  to  the  trail,  and  then  along  its  sinuous  windings 
through  the  jungle,  he  strode  at  his  swiftest  pace. 

When  he  came  to  the  final  clearing  before  the  tower 
ing  rock,  he  was  all  but  paralyzed  with  dread  at  a  bit 
of  drama  being  there  enacted. 

At  the  edge  of  the  jungle  stood  Elaine,  her  arms  and 
jacket  filled  with  fruits  she  had  gathered  against  his 
coming.  By  the  foot  of  the  trail  that  ascended  to  their 
camp,  posed  in  a  waiting  attitude,  his  long  tail  only  in 
motion,  gracefully  sweeping  his  great  tawny  side,  was 
the  tiger  that  wore  the  golden  collar. 

Not  a  sound  escaped  from  Elaine's  white  lips,  as  she 
turned  to  glance  across  at  Sidney.  Then  she  limberly 
sank  on  the  earth. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

PRIMITIVE    CONDITIONS 

A  SHORT,  sharp  cry  was  the  only  note  that  Grenville 
uttered. 

The  tiger  had  turned  his  blazing  eyes  on  the  man  he 
but  partially  feared.  Sidney  was  coming  less  at  him 
than  towards  the  helpless,  prostrate  form  that  lay  upon 
the  grass. 

The  man  had  forgotten  his  danger  in  his  greater  con 
cern  for  Elaine.  He  reached  her  side  before  he  con 
fronted  the  jungle  beast,  who  still  remained  undecided. 
Slowly  then,  deliberately,  the  malignant  animal,  superb 
not  only  in  his  strength  and  splendid  proportions,  but 
also  in  his  arrogance,  his  indifference  to  man,  the  master 
butcher  of  the  world,  ran  out  his  tongue  to  lick  his 
chops,  stretched  his  terrible  mouth  in  a  fang-revealing 
yawn,  and  trod  his  way  into  the  thicket. 

The  fruits  she  had  gathered  were  scattered  all  about 
as  Grenville  lifted  Elaine  in  his  arms  and  carried  her 
up  the  steep  ascent.  Not  having  actually  swooned,  she 
had  fairly  begun  to  revive  once  more  before  he  reached 
the  cave. 

When  he  placed  her  down  on  a  heap  of  half-dried 
grass  she  had  thrown  together  while  awaiting  his  re 
turn,  a  faint  tinge  of  color  was  returning  to  her  face, 
and  her  eyes  dimly  focused  upon  him. 

"  You've  worked  too  much,  that's  what  it  means,"  he 
said.  "  You  see  you're  tired." 

63 


64  AS  IT  WAS 

"  I'm — sorry,"  she  faltered,  faintly.  "  I  really — 
didn't  mean  to  be — so  weak." 

"  Never  mind,"  he  said.  "  I'll  kill  the  brute.  His 
skin  is  certainly  a  beauty."  With  the  utmost  apparent 
indifference  to  Elaine's  recovery,  he  went  at  once  to  the 
clearing  for  the  bits  of  old  junk  he  had  dropped. 

When  he  returned,  his  mind  was  still  on  the  tiger. 

"  We've  got  to  live — move  about — and  not  be  an 
noyed,"  he  said.  "  If  I  had  a  single  rifle !  But  I'll  get 
him  somehow,  soon  !  " 

Elaine  still  remained  upon  the  hay. 

"  If  he  doesn't  get  us  sooner,"  she  replied,  a  little 
grimly,  but  not  as  one  in  fear. 

"  I  shall  wall  up  the  trail,"  mused  Grenville,  aloud, 
looking  about  at  the  quantity  of  rock  so  readily  af 
forded.  "  That  much  I  can  do  this  afternoon." 

She  sat  up  a  bit  more  sturdily. 

"  I  dropped  our  luncheon,  I  suppose.  ...  I  hope 
to  do  better,  later  on,  when  I  get  more  used  to  condi 
tions."  She  was  mortified  to  think  he  had  been  thus 
promptly  obliged  to  carry  her  "  home  "  in  his  arms. 

"  You  are  doing  fairly  well,"  he  said,  in  his  off 
hand  manner.  "  We  shall  soon  be  all  right.  It's  a 
fine  and  tight  little  island." 

Her  one  idea  was  to  get  away  as  soon  as  possible. 

"  Shouldn't  we  put  up  a  flag,  or  something,  in  case  a 
steamer  should  happen  to  be  passing?  " 

"  As  soon  as  I  can  cut  a  long  bamboo.  I  must  have 
both  tools  and  fire  as  promptly  as  possible." 

"  You  must  be  hungry,"  she  remarked,  arising  rather 
weakly  and  going  to  the  end  of  her  cave,  where  all  the 
water  that  remained  in  the  half  of  the  paw-paw  shell  had 
been  carefully  stored,  in  Grenville's  absence.  Then, 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  65 

emerging  with  her  burden,  she  added,  "  I  meant  to  have 
your  luncheon  ready,  but  we  have  almost  nothing  left." 

"  All  that  you  gathered  was  left  by  the  tiger,"  he 
answered,  cheerfully.  "  The  beast  prefers  more  solid 
diet."  Once  more  descending  the  trail,  he  presently 
returned  with  the  fruits  that  had  fallen  from  her 
arms. 

They  ate,  as  before,  in  the  shade  of  her  cave,  for  the 
sun  on  the  rocks  was  becoming  hot. 

"  The  wall  this  afternoon,"  said  Grenville,  as  he 
finally  concluded  his  simple  repast  with  a  drink  of  tepid 
water.  "  Then  our  mast  and  signal  of  distress  must  be 
erected.  I  shall  try  for  fire  directly.  I  must  make  a 
bow  and  some  arrows.  A  clay  pit  I  found  will  provide 
us  with  earthenware  utensils,  and  then — if  only  I  could 
manage  to  melt  some  brass —  You  see,  the  worst  of 
it  is,  no  stone  I've  discovered  on  the  place  is  fit  to  use 
for  a  tool." 

Elaine  avoided  the  boyish  gleaming  of  his  gaze. 
"Are  we  thrust  so  far  back  as  the  stone  age,  then? 
It's  really  as  bad  as  that?  " 

"  Bad? "  he  said.  "  It's  tremendously  diverting. 
I've  got  to  begin,  as  it  were,  with  my  naked  hands. 
But  fortunately,  I  believe,  for  us,  the  bronze  and  stone 
ages  lap,"  and  he  drew  from  his  pockets  some  bits  of 
the  heterogeneous  collection  he  had  brought  from  the 
rotting  barque. 

"  You  have  found  some  metal?  "  Elaine  inquired,  ex 
citedly.  "But  where?" 

"  In  a  wreck  that  must  have  arrived  here  years  ago." 
He  related  as  much  as  he  thought  advisable  and  un- 
disturbing  to  the  thoroughly  wondering  girl. 

She  could  see  no  possible  use  for  all  the  rusted  bronze 


66  AS  IT  WAS 

and  brass  he  had  carried  away  from  the  wreck  so 
strangely  discovered,  but  she  made  no  discouraging 
comments  to  dampen  an  ardor  which  to  her  was  not 
precisely  comprehensible. 

"  I  hope  I  can  help,"  she  told  him,  as  she  had  before. 
"  I'm  afraid  I'm  not  very  clever." 

"  We'll  see,"  he  answered,  cheerfully.  "  Necessity  is 
rather  a  strict  instructor." 

But  she  could  not  assist  him  with  the  wall,  at  which 
he  was  presently  perspiring.  The  stones  he  rolled  and 
carried  to  the  narrowest  shelf  or  ledge  that  was  scaled 
by  the  trail  were  far  too  heavy  for  her  delicate  hands 
and  muscles. 

"  Can't  I  do  something  else? "  she  begged,  eager 
for  any  employment.  "  There  must  be  some  work  I 
could  do." 

"  You  might  plait  a  basket  of  some  sort,"  he  said. 
"  We  shall  need  some  presently." 

He  thereupon  went  below  again,  cut  all  he  could 
carry  of  tough  and  limber  creepers,  and,  fetching  them 
up  to  the  shade  of  her  cave,  instructed  Elaine  in  such 
of  the  rudiments  of  basket-weaving  as  he  himself  could 
readily  invent,  and  left  her  busily  employed. 

The  wall  he  required  to  prevent  any  possible  night 
attack  on  the  part  of  the  beast  that  was  already  in 
clined  to  stalk  either  one  of  them,  or  both,  was  not  of 
any  considerable  length,  owing  to  the  narrowness  of  the 
pass  he  had  chosen  to  block  with  bowlders.  He  had, 
however,  to  make  it  thick  and  high.  By  taking  ad 
vantage  of  three  large  blocks,  which  he  rolled  down  hill 
to  the  place  selected,  he  secured  a  substantial  founda 
tion  with  comparative  ease.  After  that  it  became  a 
matter  merely  of  carrying  stcne  after  stone,  from 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  67 

their  inexhaustible  supply  on  the  summit,  to  lodge  in 
rough,  uneven  tiers  to  the  height  desired. 

He  had  left  a  narrow  gateway  next  the  natural  wall 
that  made  his  structure  complete.  This  he  could  block 
with  a  heavy  log,  or  even  more  stones,  for  the  night. 

For  fully  three  hours  he  wrought  prodigiously,  re 
turning  from  time  to  time  to  Elaine,  to  guide  and  as 
sist  her  with  her  basket.  Between  them  they  managed 
to  produce  from  their  rough  material  a  crude,  mis 
shapen  receptacle,  coarse  of  mesh  and  clumsy,  yet 
strong  and  not  to  be  despised.  Grenville  expected  to 
use  it  to  fetch  his  clay  from  the  pit. 

It  was  not  until  this  product  of  their  combined  in 
genuity  was  fairly  complete  that  Grenville  discovered 
he  could  split  the  bark  of  the  creepers  readily,  and  tear 
out  a  smooth  white  core,  like  a  withe,  far  more  suitable 
to  their  uses.  He  then  not  only  stripped  out  several 
full-length  cores,  but  he  also  found  that  the  bark  or 
covering  thus  removed  was  constructed  of  numerous 
thread-like  strands  amazingly  tough  and  long.  These 
fibers  were  not  so  readily  separated  as  the  core  had 
been  from  the  covering  with  which  they  were  incor 
porated,  although  their  recovery  was  not  a  difficult 
operation.  His  inventive  mind  saw  ample  employment 
for  them  later. 

The  wall  was  not  entirely  finished  when,  at  length, 
he  left  it  for  the  day.  He  was  weary  in  all  his 
bone  and  sinew,  despite  the  prodding  of  his  will.  He 
had  made  no  attempt  at  kindling  fire,  and  none  towards 
procuring  a  mast  to  erect  for  a  flag  of  distress.  These 
were  tasks  that  must  wait  for  the  morrow,  with  the 
others  he  was  eager  to  attack. 

The  dinner  at  sundown  was  necessarily  a  repetition 


68  AS  IT  WAS 

of  the  previous  meals  of  the  day.  It  could  not  be 
followed  by  the  cheer  and  comfort  of  a  fire,  and  the 
darkness,  that  drew  on  rapidly,  brought  a  sense  of 
chill  and  depression  to  Elaine,  notwithstanding  her 
bravery  of  spirit. 

The  wind  had  ceased,  except  for  the  merest  intermit 
tent  puffs  of  breath  that  floated  upward  from  the  sea. 
Not  even  the  lapping  of  the  tide  against  the  wall  arose 
to  break  the  silence.  The  stillness  was  painfully  pro 
found,  though  Elaine's  imagination  depicted  a  hundred 
nocturnal  brutes  of  the  jungle,  prowling  in  every  trail 
and  clearing,  in  a  savage  quest  for  blood. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  the  nightly  tragedies  were  al 
ready  well  begun.  But  it  was  not  until  some  victim 
shrilly  voiced  its  animal  fear  and  agony,  just  beneath 
the  towering  wall,  that  Elaine  had  a  realizing  sense  of 
her  nearness  to  these  creatures  of  the  darkness,  or  the 
working  of  life's  inexorable  laws. 

Her  mind  reverted,  by  natural  process,  to  all  the  ter 
rible  occurrences  crowded  into  her  life  within  the  last 
couple  of  days — occurrences  that  seemed  so  needlessly 
tragic,  and  all  the  alarms  excited  in  her  breast,  not  only 
by  the  frightful  accident  to  the  "  Inca,"  but  likewise 
by  the  almost  unknown  man  upon  whom  she  was  now 
dependent. 

She  recalled  with  singular  vividness  everv  accent, 
every  gesture,  look,  and  deed  that  had  accompanied 
Grenville's  declaration.  She  burned  again,  with  shame 
and  indignation,  to  think  of  the  things  he  had  dared  to 
say  and  do — the  treachery  done  to  his  friend — the  in 
dignity  done  to  herself. 

She  hated  him  now  more  intensely  than  before,  since 
he  seemed,  by  some  enormity  of  purpose,  to  have  been 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  69 

in  some  manner  responsible  for  the  fate  that  had 
brought  her  here  in  his  company,  absolutely  at  his 
mercy.  That  his  promptness  of  action  had  saved  her 
life  she  willingly  and  justly  conceded — but  to  fetch 
her  here,  all  by  herself,  to  an  island  unpeopled  and 
awful,  far  from  the  track  of  ocean-going  steamers — 
with  his  threat  to  compel  her  love  still  ringing  in  her 
ears — this  seemed  to  outweigh  any  possible  service  he 
had  done  or  could  ever  accomplish. 

What  would  he  do,  she  wondered,  on  the  morrow? 
When  would  he  speak  of  his  passion  again?  What 
means,  in  this  situation,  might  he  presently  adopt  to 
coerce  the  love  she  knew  she  should  never  bestow? 

There  could  be  no  answer  to  her  questions — least  of 
all  from  the  man  himself.  He,  too,  had  fallen  into 
silence,  and  a  study  of  the  vast  and  merciless  problems, 
not  only  of  existence  till  their  escape  could  be  effected, 
but  likewise  as  to  how  that  escape  could  be  attempted, 
in  safety,  and  where  they  must  steer  their  ocean  course 
to  come  to  a  land  which  should  not  prove  inhospitable. 

He  seemed,  for  the  time,  to  have  quite  forgotten 
the  presence  of  the  girl  at  the  cave.  This  she  finally 
observed.  She  wondered,  then,  what  sinister  outcome 
his  brooding  might  presage. 

Keyed  to  a  pitch  of  nervous  sensibility  she  had 
never  experienced  before,  she  retired  at  length  within 
her  shelter  like  a  child  thrust  alone  in  the  dark.  Much 
as  she  felt  she  disliked  the  man,  she  found  herself  most 
reluctant  to  move  very  far  from  his  presence,  or  refuse 
his  protecting  care.  She  was  certain  her  dread  of  all 
it  meant  to  be  hopelessly  cast  upon  this  island,  with 
one  doubtful  human  being  only  for  comfort  and  com 
panionship,  would  haunt  her  to  sleeplessness  through- 


70         AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING 

out  the  night.  Yet  she  fell  into  slumber  almost  at 
once,  and  only  dreamed  she  was  still  awake  and 
worried. 

It  was  still  quite  early  in  the  evening.  Elaine  was 
finally  approaching  a  thoroughly  restful  oblivion,  when 
a  low,  moaning  wail,  and  then  shrill  screams,  abruptly 
ushered  once  more  into  play  that  hideous  chorus  of 
the  morning,  produced  by  some  phenomenon  of  the 
tides. 

"  Sidney !  Sidney  !  "  came  an  answering  cry ;  and 
Grenville  arose,  to  see  Elaine  running  wildly  towards 
him  from  her  cave. 


CHAPTER  IX 

THE    MOTHER    OF    INVENTION 

IT  was  not  until  the  entire  cycle  of  haunting  sounds 
had  been  repeated  for  its  final  time  that  Elaine  could 
consent  to  return  to  her  pallet  of  grasses.  And  even 
when  she  had  once  more  knelt  upon  this  improvised  bed, 
she  could  not  consent  to  resign  herself  to  the  mercies 
of  the  night  without  one  more  glance  towards  Gren- 
ville's  cavern. 

She  returned,  unseen,  to  her  door,  and  peered  forth 
through  the  starlit  night,  discerning  his  dimly  outlined 
figure,  as  he  sat  before  his  door. 

He  even  arose  as  she  paused  there,  uncertainly.  She 
noted  his  listening  attitude,  the  alertness  of  his  pose. 
Then  he  sat  once  more  upon  the  stone  at  his  threshold, 
where  she  knew  his  club  lay  ready  to  his  hand. 

A  sense  of  security,  despite  her  bitterness  of  feeling, 
came  slowly  stealing  upon  her.  She  went  back  to  her 
couch  and  slept. 

Sidney,  for  his  part,  sat  there  alone,  while  hour 
after  hour  went  silently  by,  and  the  constellations  hung 
in  higher  arches.  A  thousand  ramifications  of  thought 
he  pursued  in  his  active  brain.  But  through  them  all, 
like  an  ever  recurrent  motif,  stole  a  troubled  reminder 
of  the  tiger,  twice  encountered  in  the  day. 

To  slay  this  contemptuous,  savage  beast  that  already 
drooled  about  the  jaws  at  thoughts  of  a  human  morsel, 

71 


72  AS  IT  WAS 

was  the  one  imperative  business  to  be  promptly  executed. 
Elaine  and  himself  could  live  on  fruits,  and  neglect  all 
else,  without  serious  results,  for  a  week,  or  even  a 
month,  but  this  affair  was  not  to  be  delayed. 

He  thought  of  pitfalls,  giant  traps,  and  automatic 
engines  of  destruction  by  the  score,  each  deadly  device 
absurdly  impracticable  and  beyond  all  power  of  his 
achievement.  His  mind,  accustomed  to  civilized  ways, 
ran  in  higher  ingenuities  that  were  absolutely  useless  in 
this  primal  state  of  their  existence. 

When  at  length  he  leaned  back  against  his  wall  and 
began  to  wonder  if,  in  the  end,  he  must  arm  himself 
with  primitive  man's  crude  bow  and  arrow,  and  thus 
engage  the  master  prowler  of  the  jungle,  he  was  ready 
for  Nature's  claims.  He  slept  there,  too  utterly  ex 
hausted  to  drag  himself  in  to  his  bed.  And  there  Elaine 
found  him  in  the  morning. 

That  day  was  a  long  one,  of  varied  and  wearying 
employments.  The  wall  was  finished  across  the  trail, 
Elaine's  too  widely  opened  cavern  was  partially  blocked 
up  with  stone,  and,  at  length,  in  addition  to  searching 
the  jungle  for  something  particularly  downy  and  in 
flammable  for  tinder,  to  use  in  making  fire,  Grenville 
went  with  his  basket  down  to  the  clay  pit  and  fetched 
sufficient  of  this  moist  and  plastic  material  to  mould 
a  number  of  vessels. 

This  last  useful  art  was  not,  however,  immediately 
attempted.  Unfired  jugs  and  basins  were  absolutely 
useless — and  as  yet  they  had  no  fire.  The  search  for 
tinder  had  resulted  only  in  producing  a  silken,  fluffy 
material  that  grew  in  a  fat  green  pod.  It  was  moist, 
when  found,  with  the  natural  juices  of  the  plant. 

While  it  dried  in  the  sun,  under  Elaine's  supervision, 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  73 

Grenville  worked  at  a  stout,  elastic  tree-branch  to  taper 
out  a  bow.  His  stub  of  a  knife-blade  served  indiffer 
ently  against  the  close-grained  wood,  which,  neverthe 
less,  was  obliged  to  yield  to  his  persevering  efforts. 

At  noon  the  weapon,  save  for  the  cord,  was  rudely 
finished.  No  arrows  had  been  as  yet  provided.  Obliged 
at  this  hour  to  replenish  the  camp  supply  of  water, 
Grenville  once  more  visited  the  spring.  So  fresh  were 
the  tracks  of  the  tiger  here,  in  the  mire  about  the  trick 
ling  stream,  that  he  felt  they  must  almost  be  warm. 
The  brute  was  undoubtedly  near  at  hand,  but,  perhaps, 
well  fed,  as  before. 

"  There  is  nothing  quite  so  important  now  as  fire," 
was  Grenville's  remark,  as  he  once  more  rejoined 
Elaine.  "  Without  it  we  are  practically  helpless.  With 
it — there  is  almost  nothing  we  may  not  hope  to 
achieve." 

He  had  thought  of  a  number  of  extraordinary  and 
highly  important  implements  and  arts  that  only  flame 
and  glowing  heat  could  render  possible. 

Elaine  brought  the  fluff  she  had  thoroughly  dried, 
while  Grenville  cleaned  his  flint  and  steel.  For  an  hour, 
then,  he  strove  in  vain  to  ignite  his  bit  of  tinder.  It 
was  not  at  all  an  easy  matter  to  strike  a  spark  from  the 
stone.  What  few  brilliant  specks  of  incandescence 
sped  occasionally  downward  like  vigor  transmuted  into 
swiftly  fading  stars  from  Grenville's  varied  and  over- 
eager  strokes,  either  died  on  the  air  or  missed  their 
mark  or  struck  it  and  found  it  uncongenial. 

"  This  must  be  a  vegetable  asbestos,"  he  finally  de 
clared.  "  If  I  had  just  a  pinch  of  powder,  this  flint 
might  recognize —  By  Jove !  "  and  he  started  at 
once  to  his  feet.  "  I'm  the  greatest  fool  on  legs !  " 


74  AS  IT  WAS 

"What  seems  to  be  the  trouble?  "  said  Elaine,  who 
could  not  possibly  comprehend  his  meaning.  "  Have 
you  made  some  sort  of  mistake?  " 

"  I've  been  asleep — my  brain  defunct !  Excuse  me 
half  a  minute !  " 

He  started  madly  down  the  trail,  running  like  a  boy. 
Before  Elaine  could  do  more  than  stare  in  wonder  at 
his  antics,  he  had  reached  the  bottom  of  the  wall,  darted 
across  the  clearing,  and  disappeared  in  the  jungle 
growth  beyond. 

He  smashed  his  way  hotly  to  the  wrecked  old  barque, 
and,  pawing  deeply  beneath  the  surface  of  the  wasting 
saltpeter,  that  had  been  for  long  somewhat  protected 
in  the  hold,  promptly  filled  two  pockets  with  the  min 
eral,  and  went  racing  back  as  he  had  come. 

But  beyond  the  clearing  he  altered  his  course  to 
enter  the  region  once  blackened  by  fire.  Here  he  went 
directly  to  the  hollow  tree  he  had  once  before  ex 
amined,  and,  wriggling  inside,  through  the  ample  orifice 
burned  out  by  the  flames,  he  attacked  the  charred  in 
terior  with  his  knife  as  if  his  very  life  depended  on  his 
haste. 

In  the  briefest  time  he  had  chipped  off  more  than 
a  double  handful  of  crisp,  but  inferior,  charcoal.  Re 
treating  no  less  promptly  than  he  had  entered,  he 
gathered  this  carefully  in  a  giant  leaf,  and  hastily  re 
joined  Elaine. 

"  Powder  !  "  he  said,  belatedly  explaining.  "  Every 
thing  lying  here  and  ready,  and  my  brain  a  howling 
blank ! " 

To  Elaine  this  was  not  precisely  clear. 
'  There  is  gunpowder  here  on  the  island  ?  " 

"  No !     The  ingredients  merely.     But  any  child 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  75 

Ah!  here's  my  bit  of  sulphur!  There's  a  ton  of  it 
ready  to  be  gathered.  Powder?  I  can  make  enough 
to  Wow  a  dozen  tigers  into  ribbons !  The  wreck  is  full 
of  niter  and,  once  we  have  a  fire,  I  can  burn  all  the 
jungle  into  charcoal!" 

The  mystery  had  not  entirely  lifted  for  Elaine,  but 
this  she  hardly  expected. 

"  How  can  I  help?  "  she  asked  him,  quietly.  "  There 
must  be  something  I  can  do." 

"  It's  a  matter  of  grinding  these  materials,"  he  an 
swered,  more  calmly,  depositing  sulphur,  saltpeter,  and 
charcoal  on  a  rock  before  them.  "  It's  a  simple  com 
position,  after  all." 

Barely  less  feverishly  than  before  he  began  a  search 
for  suitable  stones  to  employ  as  mortars  and  pestles. 
There  were  many  small  bowlders  slightly  hollowed  by 
the  elements,  but  a  number  of  these  had  surfaces  ready 
to  crumble,  and  were,  therefore,  reluctantly  discarded. 
In  throwing  about  some  loosely  huddled  fragments,  to 
liberate  a  smooth,  hard  slab  of  stone  that  was  dished 
from  its  edges  to  its  center,  Grenville  was  doubly  re 
warded  by  coming  upon  a  large,  thick  seashell,  prac 
tically  perfect. 

With  this  and  the  basin  of  harder  rock,  he  returned 
at  once  to  the  shade.  He  was  soon  reducing  the  char 
coal,  while  Elaine  no  less  industriously  attacked  the 
lump  of  sulphur. 

"  We  need  a  little  only  for  a  trial,"  he  said,  as  he 
presently  sifted  out  his  powdered  product,  and  began 
to  grind  the  niter.  "  I  wish  I  remembered  the  propor 
tions." 

In  his  haste  to  obtain  results  as  soon  as  possible,  he 
finally  shook  up  and  ground  together  a  large-sized 


76  AS  IT  WAS 

pinch  from  each  of  the  three  materials,  producing 
thereby  a  grayish,  unpromising  mixture,  decidedly  too 
rich  in  both  the  charcoal  and  sulphur. 

This  he  placed  on  a  rock,  a  safe  distance  away,  and 
attacked  with  his  flint  and  steel.  Elaine  had  ceased 
her  grinding  operations,  to  stand  at  his  side  and  watch. 

He  struck,  perhaps,  a  dozen  times  before  he  pro 
duced  a  shower  of  sparks — and  nothing  occurred.  He 
looked  at  the  stuff  for  a  moment,  helplessly,  discour 
agement  swiftly  lodging  in  his  bosom.  Half-heartedly 
he  struck  the  steel  again. 

A  single  spark  flew  hotly  from  the  flint.  It  seemed 
to  curve  to  the  outside  edge  of  the  powder.  Instantly, 
however,  the  mixture  was  ignited. 

It  did  not  burn  in  a  quick,  fierce  flash,  but  more 
with  a  sputtering,  imperfect  combustion,  productive 
of  stifling  fumes.  Grenville's  hand  was  slightly 
scorched — but  his  joy  in  the  triumph  was  complete. 

"  We're  kings ! "  he  cried,  sublimely  indifferent  to 
genders.  "  We're  monarchs  of  all  we  survey !  "  He 
leaped  up,  waving  his  flint  about  his  head,  his  face  out- 
beaming  the  sun. 

Elaine  was  vaguely  glad  of  his  results. 

"  I'm  afraid  I  don't  understand  it  in  the  least." 

"  Not  at  all  necessary,"  he  informed  her,  candidly. 
"  It's  the  very  worst  powder  ever  made.  My  char 
coal  is  poor  and  my  proportions  wrong,  and  I  only 
half  ground  it  all  together.  But  it  burned!  That's 
enough  for  me — it  burned !  It  assures  us  a  fire,  and  I'll 
make  a  new  batch,  that  will  go  off  like  a  Spanish  revolu 
tion  !  " 

He  went  below  at  once  to  gather  twigs  and  fuel,  bits 
of  dried  grass,  and  other  kindling,  and  brought  a 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  77 

large  bundle  to  the  terrace.  More  carefully,  then,  he 
mixed  and  ground  his  succeeding  sample  of  the  powder. 
Recalling  more  clearly  the  accepted  formula,  he  in 
creased  the  proportion  of  saltpeter  to  something  nearer 
seventy-five  per  cent,  of  the  whole,  approximating  thus 
the  standard  long  since  established. 

Aware  that,  when  he  finally  came  to  manufacture  an 
explosive  of  higher  efficiency,  he  would  do  much  better 
to  wet  the  ingredients  and  later  dry  the  finished  product, 
he  now  proceeded,  as  before,  merely  to  try  for  a  fire. 

Thus  he  presently  laid  a  train  of  his  grayish  mixture 
from  one  small  heap  to  another,  in  a  place  selected  for 
his  trial.  Over  one  of  the  powder  pyramids  he  ar 
ranged  his  combustible  straws,  twigs,  and  branches  with 
the  nicest  care.  And  when,  at  length,  he  struck  a 
white-hot  star,  divinely  potential,  into  the  midst  of  the 
second  heap,  a  hissing  snake  of  incandescence  and 
smoke  darted  swiftly  along  the  surface  of  rock — and 
his  fire  leaped  into  being. 

On  the  towering  rock,  as  on  an  altar,  the  flames 
that  meant  life  to  the  exiled  pair  rose  goldenly  bright 
and  clear. 

A  strange  exultation  in  Grenville's  prowess  pos 
sessed  Elaine,  as  she  stood  by  in  wonder,  looking  on  his 
face. 

"  It  shall  never  go  out,"  he  told  her,  presently,  "  not 
if  I  can  prevent  it." 


CHAPTER  X 

THE  MASTER   POACHER 

THERE  were  woods  in  abundance  about  the  base  of 
the  tufa  cliff  that  would  burn  almost  as  slowly  and 
retain  their  glow  about  as  long  as  the  hardest  of  an 
thracite  coal. 

Yet  it  was  not  on  these  that  Grenville  depended, 
that  particular  night,  to  maintain  the  fire  he  had 
conjured  from  flint  and  steel.  All  those  long  dark 
hours  he  served  his  altar  flame  with  fuel  gathered 
for  the  purpose.  An  easier  method  for  its  preserva 
tion,  by  means  of  the  woods  that  were  promptly  dis 
covered,  he  adopted,  however,  very  soon. 

Each  day  that  was  ushered  in  and  closed  by  the 
island's  haunting  wails  and  chorus,  now  beheld  some 
new  development  in  the  plans  that  Grenville  was  lay 
ing.  Elaine,  less  disturbed  by  the  hideous  sounds, 
might  have  learned  more  promptly  to  accept  them  as 
part  of  the  ordeal  of  living  in  this  extraordinary 
fashion,  had  they  always  come  at  stated  hours.  But, 
born  of  the  tides,  they  came  with  the  tides,  which,  all 
the  world  over,  shift  with  each  day  till  every  hour  of  the 
twenty-four  has  had  its  visitation.  Like  a  horrid  re 
minder  of  the  brevity  of  life,  the  thing  was  fore- 
ordered  to  rise  unexpectedly,  fret  forgetful  senses,  and 
linger  longest,  apparently,  in  the  deadest  hours  of  the 
night.  Concerning  her  companion,  her  mind  was  far 

78 


AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING         79 

more  calm.  Her  distrust  and  dislike  were  unabated,  but 
he  gave  her  no  cause  for  added  worry. 

By  the  third  day  after  his  fire  had  been  accomplished, 
Grenville  had  considerably  altered  their  aspects  and 
prospects  of  living.  Their  bamboo  flagpole  stood  in  a 
crevice  of  the  highest  rock,  with  "  rags  "  of  banana 
leaves  idly  flapping  out  a  signal  of  distress;  a  number 
of  pipkins,  large  and  small,  were  grayly  drying  in  the 
sun,  to  be  subsequently  fired;  his  bow  was  strung,  be 
side  three  unfeathered  arrows,  crudely  tipped  with 
points  that  Sidney  had  pounded  out  of  screws ;  char 
coal  was  burning,  down  in  the  blackened  clearing;  a 
number  of  traps  and  dead-falls  were  nearing  comple 
tion;  and  several  basket  loads  both  of  sulphur  and  salt 
peter  were  stored  in  caverns,  which  the  man  had  roofed 
to  protect  them  from  the  rain. 

Much  toil  had  been  involved  in  these  achievements. 
The  bamboo  pole,  for  instance,  had  been  most  labori 
ously  burned  off,  close  to  its  base.  To  accomplish  this 
end,  the  man  had  carried  coals  of  fire  to  the  estuary 
swamp,  created  a  blaze,  and  repeatedly  heated  his  long 
est  piece  of  brass,  which  had  slowly  charred  a  channel 
through  the  wood  when  smartly  applied  to  its  sur 
face. 

The  cord  that  secured  the  "  flag  "  upon  this  service 
able  mast,  had  been  made,  like  the  string  for  the  bow, 
by  twisting  together  innumerable  threads  of  the  fiber 
imbedded  in  the  bark  of  the  creepers.  This  had  then 
been  "  waxed  "  with  the  glutinous  ooze  from  the  near 
est  rubber  tree,  with  which  the  jungle  abounded.  He 
had  also  found  wild  sisal  in  the  rocky  places  of  the 
island.  This  plant  had  a  leaf  like  a  bayonet,  sometimes 
six  feet  long,  and  readily  split  into  fibers  of  most  aston- 


80  AS  IT  WAS 

ishing  strength,  especially  when  three  were  braided  into 
a  cord. 

Considerably  to  Grenville's  amazement,  the  molding 
of  jugs,  some  crucibles,  and  other  essential  vessels  sug 
gested  by  the  presence  of  the  clay,  was  not  at  all  a 
simple  matter.  His  material,  which  at  first  was  mixed 
too  soft,  was  readily  stiffened  to  a  workable  consistency, 
and  the  bases  and  first  six  inches  or  more  of  flaring 
walls  of  his  pipkins  had  been  fashioned  as  a  child 
would  fashion  "  pies."  It  was  when  he  undertook  to 
crimp  and  contract  this  flaring  rim  that  the  craftsman 
ship  known  to  the  potter  required  once  again  to  be 
evolved. 

For  a  time  the  longer  he  wrought  at  the  stubborn 
material  the  more  completely  Grenville  was  defeated 
by  the  clay.  He  discovered  at  last,  as  similar  work 
men  in  every  age  and  clime  have  ultimately  discovered, 
that  potteries  thus  constructed  by  hand  must  be  built 
up  in  rings,  one  ring  at  a  time,  especially  where  the 
walls  draw  in  to  an  ever  narrowing  diameter. 

When,  at  length,  this  simple  fact  had  been  estab 
lished — the  first  success  having  come  to  Elaine,  whose 
feminine  wit  had  been  nimbler  far  than  the  man's — a 
highly  respectable  family  of  jugs  and  useful  receptacles 
had  rapidly  come  into  being. 

Mid-afternoon  of  this  busy  day  found  Grenville  en 
grossed  with  his  labors.  Despite  the  fact  they  had  not 
yet  dined  on  anything  but  fruit,  he  was  preparing  salt 
for  meat.  The  shell  he  had  found  was  full  of  water 
from  the  sea,  evaporating  rapidly  in  a  bed  of  hot 
ashes  and  coals.  This,  however,  was  resigned  to 
Elaine's  efficient  vigilance,  while  Sidney  worked  ab- 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  81 

sorbingly  to  complete  a  number  of  small  clay  molds  de 
signed  for  the  casting  of  tools. 

When,  at  length,  the  last  of  these  was  done  and  set 
aside  to  dry  with  the  jugs  and  assorted  vessels,  he 
glanced  briefly  up  at  the  sun.  There  were  several 
hours  of  this  blazing  light  remaining.  Resolved  in 
one  moment  to  hasten  to  the  jungle  with  his  bow  and 
the  unfeathered  arrows,  which  might  be  relied  upon  at 
easy  range  to  fly  sufficiently  straight  for  all  his  pur 
poses,  Grenville  determined  in  the  next  to  make  them 
a  bit  more  certain. 

A  branch  and  leaf  from  a  freshly  despoiled  banana 
plant  had  suggested  "  feathers  "  for  his  shafts.  It  was 
the  work  of  a  moment  only  to  cut  out  and  trim  a  slen 
der  bit  of  the  fibrous  branch  from  which  the  leaf  sub 
stance  projected.  The  leaf  part  itself,  which  was 
rather  tough,  and  considerably  like  a  stiffened  cloth  in 
texture,  he  cut  to  shape  no  less  quickly.  Then,  binding 
on  each  of  the  arrows  a  trio  of  these  improvised  "  rud 
ders,"  he  took  up  his  club,  informed  Elaine  he  might 
be  absent  half  an  hour,  and  descended  at  once  to  the 
clearing. 

His  porcupine,  seen  no  less  than  half  a  dozen  times 
when  his  arms  had  been  burdened,  or  his  club  was  not 
at  hand,  was  not  to  be  found  for  all  his  elaborate 
searching,  now  that  he  was  desirable  for  dinner.  Natu 
rally,  Grenville  had  no  particular  preference  for  por 
cupine  where  pheasants  were  not  impossible.  But  the 
fact  that  the  bristling  hedgehog  is  not  to  be  despised, 
he  knew  from  past  experience.  Moreover,  he  had 
fondly  hoped  this  somewhat  stupid  quarry  might  be 
readily  found  and  taken. 

Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  for  three  days  past 


82  AS  IT  WAS 

not  a  sign  had  been  vouchsafed  him  of  the  tiger, 
Grenville  took  to  himself  no  fulsome  sense  of  security 
as  he  made  his  way  slowly  through  the  jungle,  towards 
the  estuary  swamp.  The  island  was  small;  the  brute 
was  always  near — and  some  day  the  contest  between 
they  two  must  be  waged  to  a  definite  conclusion. 

The  axiom  is  old  that  the  most  game  is  seen  when 
the  huntsman  has  no  weapon.  It  seemed  to  Grenville, 
slipping  as  noiselessly  as  possible  down  towards  the 
water,  where  birds  and  beasts  had  always  been  encoun 
tered,  that  the  island  had  been  suddenly  deserted.  He 
saw  not  a  thing,  beyond  the  vaguest  movements  in  the 
trees,  perhaps  for  the  very  fact  he  moved  so  cau 
tiously,  and  thereby  assumed  an  aspect  that  was  crafty, 
sinister,  or  suspicious. 

Some  reptile  glided  to  the  water,  starting  a  ripple 
on  the  surface,  but  not  even  its  head  was  visible  to 
the  watchful  eyes  of  the  man.  An  arrow  was  notched 
upon  his  bow,  and,  while  the  practice  in  which  he  had 
indulged  had  been  far  too  brief  to  develop  the  skill  he 
knew  he  might  finally  acquire,  Sidney  was  certain  that 
up  to  a  range  of  five  or  ten  yards  his  shaft  would  prove 
fairly  deadly. 

He  had  heretofore  seen  no  game  at  all  that  was  not, 
in  fact,  almost  under  his  very  feet.  Of  the  pheasants, 
flushed  before  on  at  least  three  separate  occasions,  he 
detected  not  so  much  as  a  hint.  The  monkeys  were 
silent.  Not  even  the  noisy  parrots  flew  out  with 
their  usual  disturbance.  All  about  the  growth  of  bam 
boo  he  trod,  wherever  a  space  was  open,  but  in  vain. 

Reflecting  that  the  pheasants  might  have  gone  be 
yond,  to  a  section  where  rocks  and  shrubbery  doubtless 
afforded  the  seeds  or  berries  on  which  they  would  prob- 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  83 

ably  feed,  he  started  more  briskly  towards  Lhe  trail 
that  would  take  him  past  the  wreck. 

He  had  not  entirely  cleared  the  bamboo  growth  when, 
abruptly,  there  in  the  open  space  before  him,  hardly 
fifteen  feet  away,  a  wild  hog  paused,  fairly  startled  to 
inaction  where  it  had  entered  the  clearing  from  the 
jungle.  It  had  turned  its  head  to  stare  at  the  man 
inquiringly.  Its  two  little  eyes,  maliciously  gleaming, 
increased  its  threatening  aspect  as  the  bristles  slowly 
rose  on  its  back. 

Without  making  the  slightest  unnecessary  movement, 
Grenville  raised  his  bow.  He  drew  the  arrow  fairly  to 
the  head.  A  sharp  twang  followed  instantly.  A  streak 
of  gray  sped  swiftly  and  obliquely  towards  the  earth. 
Then,  for  a  second,  Grenville  saw  the  stout  shaft 
quiver  where  it  was  buried  in  the  base  of  the  creature's 
neck. 

One  challenging  grunt  the  wild  hog  uttered,  starting 
as  if  to  charge.  But  the  arrow  had  shattered  the 
nerves  that  make  for  rage  and  courage,  cleaving  to  the 
seat  of  life  itself. 

The  boar  staggered  blindly,  instinctively,  back  to 
the  dense,  concealing  jungle. 

Grenville  heard  it  grunt  once  savagely,  as  it  broke 
its  way  past  interfering  branches  of  the  growth.  He 
realized  it  was  escaping,  that  it  might  reach  a  hole 
or  other  concealment  before  it  fell,  and  cheat  him  of 
his  dinner. 

He  dropped  his  bow,  as  a  useless  impediment  in  such 
a  tangle,  and  plunged  in  a  reckless  manner  through  the 
shrubbery  and  vines  where  his  quarry  was  no  longer  in 
sight. 

The  hog  must  have  stumbled  forward  with  consider- 


84  AS  IT  WAS 

able  speed.  A  vibrating  palm,  ten  feet  ahead  of  his 
position,  urged  Sidney  impulsively  forward.  He  was 
baffled  and  retarded  in  a  most  exasperating  fashion  by 
the  creepers  woven  through  the  thicket. 

Obliged  to  make  a  slight  detour,  he  smashed  a  path 
between  two  stout  banana  palms — and  came  upon  a 
hidden  clearing.  There  was  one  unexpectedly  violent 
movement  of  the  growth  just  opposite,  and  there  he 
thought  his  hog  was  dying. 

Instantly  upon  his  startled  vision  impinged  a  blot 
of  yellow  color.  The  full  active  form  of  the  tiger  was 
immediately  revealed,  as  the  brute  leaped  forth  and  sank 
his  teeth  in  the  neck  of  the  sinking  boar. 

There  was  one  shrill  mort  cry  only  as  the  hog  became 
inert.  Half  raising  the  limber  form  in  his  massive 
jaws,  the  while  his  eyes  wildly  blazed  his  challenge  to 
and  defiance  of  the  man  who  had  halted  in  the  clearing, 
the  great  supple  creature,  with  the  studded  gold  band 
about  his  neck,  slowly  strode  once  more  within  the 
jungle. 

With  a  horribly  disquieting  comprehension  of  the 
fact  he  had  doubtless  been  stalked  for  the  past  half 
hour,  which  fully  accounted  for  the  absence  of  game 
along  the  trails,  Grenville  retreated  from  the  place. 
Why  he  had  not  been  leaped  upon  and  instantly  slain 
was  too  much  to  understand — unless  the  unknown  be 
ings  who  had  placed  a  collar,  like  a  badge  of  inferiority, 
upon  the  animal's  neck,  had  so  impressed  him  with  a 
dread  of  man  that  he  dared  not  make  an  attack. 

All  zest  for  the  hunt  had  departed  from  his  being 
when  Sidney  recovered  his  bow.  Anger  and  exaspera 
tion  took  its  place  as  he  reflected  on  the  ease  with 
which  this  insolent,  fearless  beast  could  continue  to  rob 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  85 

him  of  his  quarry.  And  one  day,  he  knew,  the  ani 
mal's  boldness  would  increase  to  a  point  where  a  treach 
erous  leap  would  restore  his  undisputed  mastery  of  all 
this  bit  of  land. 

"I'll  kill  him!"  said  Grenville,  unexcitedly.  "I'll 
blow  him  clean  out  of  his  skin ! " 

He  went  boldly  down  to  the  rotting  wreck,  climbed 
eagerly  up  to  the  slanted  cabin,  and  saluted  the  dead 
man,  sitting  there  in  chains. 

"  Brother,  I've  come  for  the  cannon,"  he  said. 
"  There's  little  else  left  for  you  to  guard." 

Although  the  small  bit  of  ordnance  would  make  a 
load  of  fully  fifty  pounds,  Grenville  determined,  then 
and  there,  to  make  a  clean  sweep  of  all  the  old  hulk's 
remaining  bits  of  brass  and  bronze  not  appropriated 
earlier.  He,  therefore,  heaved  the  cannon  out  through 
a  gap  in  the  rotting  planks,  and  began  a  hurried  over 
hauling  of  everything  left  in  the  lockers. 

He  had  drawn  out  coil  upon  coil  of  ancient  cordage, 
that  broke  like  wetted  paper  in  his  hands,  before  the 
largest  and  last  of  the  lockers  had  been  emptied  of  its 
junk.  This  was  a  deep  and  comparatively  sound  sort 
of  box  beneath  a  former  bunk.  Its  interior  was  ab 
solutely  dark. 

Unwilling  to  overlook  the  slightest  metal  object, 
Grenville  got  down  on  his  hands  and  knees,  to  peer  to 
the  farthest  corner.  There  seemed  to  be  nothing  re 
maining  in  the  place.  Nevertheless,  he  reached  well  in 
side  and  swept  his  hand  about  the  walls,  till  it  came  to 
a  slight  obstruction. 

This  was  a  screw-head,  so  far  as  he  could  determine, 
in  the  planking  just  to  the  left  of  the  door,  in  one  of 
the  nearest  corners.  He  pressed  rather  heavily  against 


86         AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING 

the  moldy  woodwork,  and  his  fist  went  through,  break 
ing  away  a  decayed  square  of  wood  that  had  once  been 
a  tiny  door. 

Convinced  at  once  that  a  small  and,  heretofore,  un 
discovered  locker,  of  insignificant  dimensions,  had  been 
made  between  the  walls  of  two  of  the  usual  compart 
ments,  he  conceived  it  to  be  a  secret  hiding-place,  and 
strained  the  full  length  of  his  reaching  arm,  blindly  to 
explore  its  interior. 

He  could  not  touch  its  wall  at  the  rear  without 
crawling  full}7  inside  the  larger  locker,  and  for  this  he 
felt  but  little  relish.  With  a  plan  worth  two  of  that 
discomfiting  scheme,  he  arose  and  kicked  out  the  pan 
eling  from  the  front  of  the  narrow  box. 

Once  more  he  knelt,  and  thrust  his  arm  to  the  end 
of  the  place.  His  fingers  came  gropingly  upon  a 
round,  metallic  object,  wedged  tightly  down  between 
two  supports  of  wood.  He  broke  it  out  in  his  vigorous 
way,  and  drew  it  to  the  light. 


CHAPTER  XI 

A  MYSTERY 

WITH  an  odd  sensation  tingling  in  his  veins,  Gren- 
ville  examined  his  find. 

It  was  merely  a  cylinder,  made  of  brass,  fully  three 
inches  in  diameter,  and,  perhaps,  eight  inches  long. 
Its  cap  was  rusted  so  firmly  in  place  that  he  could 
not  possibly  remove  it.  He  gave  the  tube  a  shake. 
There  was  something  inside,  but  its  weight  was  exceed 
ingly  light. 

Once  more  he  knelt  before  the  secret  locker  to  ex 
amine  all  its  walls.  But  although  his  fingers  finally 
played  upon  every  square  inch  of  the  sides  and  ceiling, 
there  was  nothing  further  to  be  found.  Apparently 
the  only  "  treasure  "  the  place  had  concealed  was  con 
tained  within  the  tube. 

He  thought  of  a  score  of  documents  the  one-time  cap 
tain  of  the  barque  might  have  thus  desired  to  preserve, 
but  the  sun  was  rapidly  nearing  its  purple  horizon,  and 
the  old  ship's  hold  was  growing  dark.  Grenville  gath 
ered  the  last  of  the  metal  spoils  he  had  found  in  an 
empty  box,  half  rotted,  on  the  floor.  The  tube  he 
thrust  firmly  in  his  pocket. 

What  with  the  cannon  balanced  on  his  shoulder,  his 
box  of  rusted  metal  hugged  beneath  his  arm,  and  his 
bow,  club,  and  arrows  clutched  tightly  in  his  hand,  he 
presented  a  singular  figure  as  he  finally  made  his  way 

87 


88  AS  IT  WAS 

along  the  darkening  trail,  and  came  at  length  to  the 
clearing,  to  be  hailed  from  the  heights  by  Elaine. 

"  Just  for  the  sake  of  variety,"  he  said,  when  he 
came  to  the  terrace  with  his  burdens,  "  we'll  eat  one 
more  dinner  of  fruit." 

"  I  couldn't  think  what  you  had  killed,"  said 
Elaine,  "  when  I  saw  you  coming  with  this,"  and  she 
placed  her  foot  on  the  cannon  he  had  gladly  dropped  to 
the  ground.  "  What  is  it,  anyway  ?  " 

"  A  pop-gun,"  he  said,  "  to  tickle  my  friend  the 
tiger." 

She  was  instantly  apprehensive.  "  You  have  met 
him  again?  " 

He  had  no  intention  of  arousing  her  alarm. 

"  The  brute  is  still  about  the  island.  I  should  like 
his  skin  for  a  rug." 

"  You  could  really  shoot  him  with  this?  " 

"  Well — I  shall  mount  it,  in  any  case,  though  I  have 
my  doubts  of  his  standing  while  I  blow  a  few  rocks 
through  his  person." 

When  he  went  for  a  fresh  supply  of  fruits 
he  brought  up  a  log  some  four  or  five  feet  in  length, 
with  a  burned-off  prong  at  its  end.  This  he  intended  to 
prepare  as  a  "  carriage  "  for  the  gun.  He  placed  the 
pronged  end  down  in  his  fire,  to  burn  out  a  niche  for  the 
little  brass  piece,  which  he  cleaned  of  its  mud  then  and 
there. 

His  preliminary  work  on  the  bit  of  ordnance  was 
soon  concluded.  When  his  log  had  burned  to  a  mod 
erate  depth,  he  removed  it  to  a  near-by  rock  and 
gouged  the  charred  portions  away.  Into  the  hollow 
thus  rudely  formed,  the  breach  of  the  gun  loosely  fitted, 
ready  to  be  firmly  bound  in  place. 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  89 

But  the  day  was  done,  and  Elaine  had  spread  their 
"  table,"  to  which  Sidney  was  glad  to  repair. 

He  had  mentioned  nothing  of  the  tube  still  fatly 
bulging  his  pocket.  Until  he  should  first  determine 
what  the  cylinder  contained,  he  meant  to  arouse  no  un 
necessary  speculations  in  the  breast  of  his  companion. 
How  much  she  might  yet  have  to  know  of  the  barque 
and  the  mummy  chained  in  its  cabin  he  could  not  deter 
mine  to-night.  That  something  sinister  lurked  behind 
the  mystery  which  this  and  the  two  headless  skeletons 
involved  was  his  constantly  growing  conviction. 

It  was  not  until  night  was  heavily  down,  and  Elaine 
had  crept  gladly  to  the  comfort  of  her  cave,  that 
Grenville  produced  the  brass  cylinder,  and  stirred  up 
new  flames  of  his  fire. 

Then,  sitting  alone  in  the  ruddy  glow,  with  a  rock 
for  a  stool,  and  another  before  him  for  an  anvil,  he 
scraped  all  he  could  of  the  greenish  oxidation  from  the 
cover  of  the  tube,  and  tried,  as  before,  to  wrench 
it  off.  The  stubborn  parts  remained  solidly  rusted 
together. 

This  he  had  apparently  expected.  For  he  took  up 
a  rock  of  convenient  size  and,  gently  beating  the 
cylinder  just  below  its  union  with  the  cover,  he  bent  it 
slightly  inward  about  its  entire  circumference,  mean 
while  pausing  from  time  to  time  to  thrust  his  knife  be 
tween  the  cemented  pieces  and  force  them  a  little 
apart. 

The  tube  was  considerably  mangled  by  this  process, 
while  the  cover  still  adhered.  In  a  final  burst  of  im 
patience,  Grenville  thrust  the  battered  cap  in  the 
crevice  between  two  bowlders  and  wrenched  it  roughly 
away. 


90  AS  IT  WAS 

Then  he  turned  the  hollow  tube  to  the  light,  reveal 
ing,  within,  the  edge  of  some  document,  thick  and 
loosely  rolled.  This  he  readily  removed  and  straight 
ened  in  his  hands,  placing  the  tube  beneath  his 
arm. 

For  a  moment  the  parchment  seemed,  despite  the  fire 
light  upon  it,  a  mere  blank  square,  of  leathery  texture 
and  weight.  Then  he  fancied  he  saw  upon  its  surface 
some  manner  of  writing,  or  signs. 

He  resumed  his  seat  and  held  the  thing  to  the  fullest 
light  of  the  flames.  It  was  yellowish  tan  in  color,  a 
trifle  stiff,  and  inclined  to  curl  to  the  shape  it  had 
held  so  long.  Grenville  turned  it  over,  so  dim  were 
the  characters  it  bore.  There  was  nothing,  however, 
on  its  outer  side,  wherefore  he  bent  more  closely  towards 
his  wavering  light  above  such  signs  as  he  could  finally 
discern. 

Perhaps  the  fact  that  he  began  by  expecting  to  find 
some  ordinary  map,  or  printed  or  written  characters, 
for  a  short  time  baffled  his  wits.  Howbeit,  he  began  at 
length  to  discover  the  fact  that  a  few  large  signs  or 
hieroglyphics  had  been  rudely  sketched  upon  the  parch 
ment.  When  this  discovery  was  finally  confirmed,  he 
had  still  considerable  difficulty  in  tracing  the  lines  that 
comprised  these  singular  designs. 

The  firelight  cast  dark  shadows  in  certain  crease-like 
traceries  that  folds  in  the  substance  had  formed.  It 
was  not  until  he  presently  managed  to  discriminate  be 
tween  these  mere  wrinkles  and  the  "  writing,"  that  he 
made  the  slightest  progress.  His  eyes  at  last  became 
more  keen  to  follow  the  artist's  meaning.  With  his 
stub  of  a  pencil,  on  a  whittled  bit  of  wood,  he  began 
to  copy  what  he  "  read." 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  91 

The  result  was,  crudely,  this : 


XVWVW     f  \         /          \         I          I    /WWW 


It  was  not  a  map ;  it  could  hardly  be  a  message — un 
less  expressed  in  some  short-hand  system  heretofore  un 
known — yet  it  must  at  some  time  or  other  have  been 
accounted  important  to  have  been  so  elaborately  pre 
served. 

Grenville  turned  it  upside  down,  compared  his  copy 
with  the  original  repeatedly,  and  then  examined  the 
parchment  with  most  minute  particularity  in  search  of 
some  smaller  writing  to  explain  these  mysterious 
signs. 

There  was  nothing  further  to  be  seen — at  least  by 
the  light  of  his  fire.  Two  of  the  symbols  only  did  he 
recognize  as  ever  having  come  to  his  attention  before. 
These  were,  first,  the  lines  like  a  series  of  M's,  and  sec 
ond  the  oval,  about  a  human  figure.  This  last  sug- 


92  AS  IT  WAS 

gcsted  unmistakably  an  ancient  Egyptian  cartouch — 
the  name  or  title  of  a  king.  But  containing  one  sign 
only,  and  that  apparently  representing  a  mummy,  it 
puzzled  the  inventor  no  less  than  the  pyramids  and 
curves. 

That  some  either  crude  or  crafty  mind  had  com 
bined  this  mixture  of  Egyptian  and  nondescript  hiero 
glyphics  with  intent  to  reveal  some  secret  message  or 
information  to  other  initiated  beings,  while  conceal 
ing  its  import  from  all  accidental  beholders  of  the 
script,  seemed  to  Grenville  perfectly  obvious. 

He  sat  for  three  hours  replenishing  the  fire  and 
goading  his  brain  for  a  key  to  the  puzzle,  before  it  oc 
curred  to  his  mind  at  last  the  tube  might  contain  the 
explanation. 

All  this  while  he  had  held  it  beneath  his  arm,  hard 
pressed  against  his  body.  As  he  peered  down  its  dark 
interior  once  more,  he  likewise  thrust  in  his  fingers.  It 
was  they  that  discovered  and  fastened  upon  another 
sheet  of  something  he  had  missed. 

This  clung  so  close  to  the  tube's  metal  walls  he  wet 
ted  his  finger  to  remove  it.  The  light  then  shone 
opaquely  through  its  substance.  It  was  ordinary 
foolscap  paper,  the  half  of  a  sheet,  gone  yellowish  with 
age,  but  otherwise  very  well  preserved. 

It  was  covered  with  roughly  scrawled  characters. 

Grenville  glanced  it  through — and  irrelevantly  longed 
for  a  pipe.  He  felt  he  should  like  some  good  tobacco 
to  assist  in  the  puzzle's  solution. 

He  felt  convinced,  however,  that  a  crude  example 
of  the  simplest,  most  primitive  cipher  was  contained 
upon  the  sheet.  Should  the  words  later  prove  to  be  in 
English  he  could  finally  read  it  all.  He  began  to  com- 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  93 

pare  the  recurrence  of  the  various  symbols  at  once,  dis 
covering  that  the  sign  in  the  form  of  a  cross  had  been 
used  no  less  than  fourteen  times,  and  was  therefore  al 
most  certainly  E.  The  next  in  importance  was  the  fig 
ure  3,  which  he  felt  might  be  either  A,  or  N,  or  S,  since 


3^3 


these,  after  E,   are  among  the  characters  in  English 
spelling  most  frequently  employed. 

On  another  clean  chip  of  whittled  wood  he  jotted 
down  a  few  of  the  "  words  "  with  E's  in  each  instance 
substituted  for  the  crosses,  and  then  began  attempting 
to  make  clear  sense  by  substituting  A's,  N's,  and  S's 
for  the  figure  three,  the  figure  one,  and  open  squares, 
which,  he  found,  had  been  often  represented. 


94         AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING 

It  was  a  blind  and  tedious  business.  His  fire  burned 
low,  in  his  absorption,  and  the  midnight  constellations 
marched  past  the  zenith  of  the  heavens  before  he  finally 
realized  the  folly  of  his  quest. 

"  It's  not  a  bit  of  good  in  the  world,  if  I  knew  all 
about  it,"  he  finally  confessed,  "  no  matter  what  it 
means." 

He  went  to  bed.  But  he  did  not  sleep.  Those 
singular  pyramids  and  the  cipher  still  lingered  before 
his  inner  vision.  What  was  the  mystery  hidden  behind 
the  dead  man  chained  in  the  rotting  barque,  the  head 
less  skeletons  lying  near  the  swamp,  and  now  these 
documents,  found  in  the  tube  and  so  carefully  con 
cealed  ? 

"  I  give  it  up,"  he  told  himself  at  last,  in  an  effort 
to  dismiss  it  all  and  compose  his  active  brain.  "  I  wish 
I  had  a  stouter  tube  to  make  a  good  bomb  for  the 
tiger." 

He  thought  perhaps  he  could  use  the  oxidized  cylin 
der  as  it  was,  and  began  thereupon  to  wonder  how  he 
should  make  a  fuse  by  which  its  powder  contents  might 
be  ignited.  Thus  he  drowsed  off  at  last,  with  fantastic 
dreams  swiftly  solving  the  sum  of  his  problems. 


CHAPTER  XII 

AMBITIOUS    PLANS 

GRENVILLE  awoke  with  a  brilliant  idea,  born  in  his 
brain  as  he  slept. 

It  was  not  concerned  with  the  documents  found  in 
the  old  brass  receptacle,  but  entirely  with  the  tiger. 
He  knew  how  to  fashion  a  fuse. 

The  creepers  had  answered  this  latest  need,  with 
their  bark  so  readily  hollowed.  He  had  burned  up 
yards  of  the  drying  stuff  with  the  core  removed,  all  of 
it  shrunk  and  twisted  tight,  like  long  coils  of  vegetable 
tubing.  He  had  only  to  fill  it  with  his  powder  while 
green,  and  then  let  it  dry  in  the  sun. 

He  could  likewise  fill  the  useless  cylinder,  wrap  it 
about  to  increase  its  resistance  to  the  powder — and 
thereby  render  its  explosion  far  more  violent.  If,  after 
that,  a  chance  were  presented  to  ignite  it  under  the 
tiger 

It  was  possible  always,  he  confessed,  the  tiger  might 
prove  unwilling.  However,  both  the  cannon  and  bomb 
should  be  immediately  prepared.  There  could  be  no 
peace  upon  the  island  while  the  brute  remained  alive. 

All  thoughts  of  the  cipher  were  postponed  for  even 
ing  recreation.  The  day's  work  began  after  breakfast 
in  preparing  large  quantities  of  powder. 

At  this  Elaine  assisted.  She  was  glad  of  any  em 
ployment.  No  less  in  her  veins  than  in  Grenville's 

95 


96  AS  IT  WAS 

the  promptings  of  being  in  the  primitive  were  daily 
surging  stronger.  Like  himself,  she  was  hungry  for 
meat;  and  while  she  had  no  thoughts  of  turning  Ama 
zon  herself,  she  felt  an  increasing  interest  in  all  that 
Grenville  was  attempting  in  his  task  of  coping  with 
nature. 

Meanwhile  Sidney  was  daily  assuming  a  wild  and  un 
kempt  aspect  that  he  could  not  possibly  avoid.  His 
beard  was  an  unbecoming  stubble  that  he  was  power 
less  to  shave;  his  hair  was  uncombed  and  a  trifle  long; 
his  clothing  was  not  without  its  rents.  But  what  an 
active,  muscular  being  he  appeared,  as  he  moved  about 
at  his  work !  He  seemed  so  thoroughly  fearless,  so  com 
petent  and  at  home  with  naked  Nature.  His  thought- 
fulness,  moreover,  had  no  limits,  and  neither  had  his 
cheer.  He  had  made  no  further  disquieting  advances, 
but  seemed  rather  to  have  forgotten,  utterly,  the  law 
less  emotions  to  which  he  had  one  day  given  way. 

This  day  it  was  he  started  the  fires  to  bake  his  ves 
sels  of  clay.  They  were  all  sufficiently  dry  for  the  pur 
pose,  and,  huddled  together,  a  bit  removed,  in  a  rudely 
constructed  furnace  made  of  rock,  were  piled  about 
with  abundant  fuel  to  provide  an  even  heat. 

The  morning  was  sped  between  the  various  duties. 
Some  ten  or  more  pounds  of  powder  Grenville  finally 
stored  in  his  cave.  The  labor  of  grinding  and  mixing 
had  undergone  many  interruptions  while  he  attended  the 
fire  about  his  jugs.  He  finally  fetched  some  creepers 
from  the  growth  and,  stripping  out  the  pliable  cores, 
poured  powder  in  several  of  the  hollow  coverings, 
bound  them  together,  here  and  there,  with  fibers,  and 
placed  them  out  on  the  rocks  to  dry. 

With  the  withes  thus  provided  to  his  hand,  the  cannon 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  97 

was  bound  upon  the  log  he  had  hollowed  a  bit  to  receive 
it.  This  he  knew  to  be  crude  and,  perhaps,  even  quite 
insufficient,  but  the  gun  was,  in  any  event,  far  too  un 
wieldy  for  use  against  the  tiger,  unless  the  brute  should 
deliberately  pose  as  a  target,  in  the  clearing  down 
below. 

That  mid-day  the  porcupine  once  more  volunteered 
for  dinner.  His  services  were  accepted.  Grenville 
dispatched  him  with  a  club — and  skinned  him  in  the 
thicket.  He  was  far  too  considerate  of  a  woman's 
sensibilities  to  fetch  the  creature  into  camp,  with  his 
arsenal  of  spears  still  upon  him.  But  the  task  of  re 
moving  the  hedgehog's  hide  was  amazingly  difficult. 

Aware  of  two  important  facts — namely,  that  meat 
too  freshly  cooked  is  certain  to  be  tough,  while  even 
fresh  meat  for  three  hours  wrapped  in  paw-paw  leaves 
becomes  incredibly  tender,  Grenville  lost  no  time,  when 
the  skinning  was  done,  in  thoroughly  swaddling  his 
"  game."  He  had  carved  it  up  for  more  convenient 
handling.  When  he  finally  brought  it  for  Elaine  to 
see,  it  looked  decidedly  attractive. 

"  I  shall  save  some  scraps  for  bait,"  he  said.  "  To 
morrow  we'll  try  for  fish." 

What  with  carving  a  number  of  tough,  wooden  hooks, 
preparing  some  line  from  various  fibers,  and  supplying 
new  fuel  to  the  flames  that  were  firing  his  needed  pot 
teries,  his  remaining  hours  were  full. 

At  length,  in  preparation  for  their  dinner  of  meat, 
he  went  below,  dug  a  hole  somewhat  laboriously  in  the 
sand  and  earth  of  the  clearing,  and  started  another  brisk 
fire  in  the  hollow  thus  created,  Elaine  tossing  down 
a  few  glowing  twigs  for  the  purpose. 

And  how  brave  she  looked,  he  paused  to  note,  as  she 


98  AS  IT  WAS 

came  to  the  brink  to  be  of  this  much  assistance !  How 
beautiful  she  was — and  how  delicate  she  seemed,  to  be 
cast  into  such  conditions !  Despite  her  sturdiness  of 
heart  and  limb,  she  had  always  been  tenderly  reared. 
How  far  might  she  go,  enduring  this  life,  reduced  to 
savagery  ? 

These  were  thoughts  that  had  come  and  been  ban 
ished  from  his  mind  innumerable  times.  There  was 
nothing  he  could  do  to  alter  or  even  greatly  alleviate 
the  hardships  by  which  she  was  surrounded.  Her  aloof 
ness  from  personal  contact  with  himself,  even  her  con 
stant  suspicions  of  his  motives,  and  her  lingering  in 
dignation  for  what  he  had  done,  he  felt  every  hour 
of  the  day.  But  he  could  not  have  begged  her  forgive 
ness  if  he  would — and  would  not  have  done  so  if  he 
could. 

How  long  would  it  last,  he  asked  himself — and  what 
would  be  the  end?  Would  no  ship  ever  come — or  how 
long  might  it  be  till  succor  finally  arrived?  Would  a 
search  be  made  for  the  missing  boat  that  had  gone 
to  the  bottom  of  the  sea?  Or,  before  this  could  hap 
pen,  would  smaller  craft  arrive — the  strange,  swift 
craft  of  these  eastern  waters,  manned  by  fanatical  out 
laws,  pirates,  or  even  the  wild,  head-hunting  Dyaks, 
who  had  probably  been  here  before? 

When  he  finally  placed  his  meat  in  the  pit,  where 
the  fire  had  burned  down  to  glowing  embers,  his  mind 
was  filled  with  the  many  plans  he  was  impatient  to 
materialize  without  another  half  hour's  delay.  He  cov 
ered  the  leaf-and-clay-wrapped  dinner,  first  with  por 
tions  of  the  coals  and  heated  ashes,  and  then  with  all  the 
sand  he  had  dug  to  make  his  natural  oven,  after  which 
he  returned  to  the  terrace. 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  99 

Neither  the  process  of  cooking,  nor  that  of  firing 
his  earthenware  could  be  hastened  now  by  Grenville's 
presence.  He  saw  that  his  pottery  furnace  was  prop 
erly  supplied  with  fuel,  and  then  sat  down  where  Elaine 
was  busily  plaiting  a  flat  sort  of  mat  with  withes  she 
had  somehow  split  to  half  their  former  size,  and  there 
he  began  to  carve  at  some  slender  branches  of  wood 
he  had  brought  from  down  below. 

"  What  are  you  making?  "  he  presently  asked,  as  he 
watched  her  nimble  fingers  at  their  task. 

"  A  platter  for  the  meat,"  she  told  him,  briefly. 
"  And  what  are  your  sticks  to  become  ?  " 

"  Forks  for  the  same.  I  hope  we  shall  need  no 
knives.  ...  I  must  soon  find  time  to  dig  about  and, 
perhaps,  unearth  some  yams.  They  are  not  so  good 
as  potatoes,  but  they  answer  at  a  pinch." 

"  You  have  planned  so  many  things  to  accomplish," 
she  said.  "  Do  you  think  you  shall  ever  have  the 
'time?" 

"  Can't  tell,  but  meantime  I  thoroughly  enjoy  this 
wresting  an  existence  from  more  or  less  stubborn  con 
ditions.  Just  as  soon  as  I  eliminate  the  tiger  I  shall 
melt  up  my  pieces  of  metal  to  make  a  number  of 
tools." 

Elaine  looked  up  at  the  man  in  wonder,  but  not  in 
credulously. 

"  What  perfect  confidence  you  seem  to  have  in  your 
ability  to  accomplish  difficult  things." 

His  utterance  sank  a  tone  lower  as  he  answered : 

"  What  I  say  I'll  do— I'll  do.  What  I  say  I'll  have 
—I'll  have." 

It  was  the  first  word  he  had  spoken  since  their  coming 
to  the  island  that  might  have  been  construed  as  a  sur- 


100  AS  IT  WAS 

vival  of  the  feelings  he  had  demonstrated  on  the 
steamer. 

Elaine  felt  her  whole  being  suddenly  burn  with 
strange  excitement.  She  felt  the  underlying  sig 
nificance  of  his  speech,  and  her  soul  was  instantly  bris 
tling  with  defiance. 

His  words  went  too  deep  and  were  uttered  too  gravely 
for  any  mere  idle  boasting.  She  had  already  seen,  and 
partially  acknowledged,  the  power  that  lay  in  this 
strong  man's  hands  to  compel  his  desired  ends.  She 
felt  this  potency  emanating  from  him  now — and  re 
sented  the  fact  that  she  herself  had  been  as  much 
selected  as  the  tiger  for  his  ultimate  conquering. 

She  was  angry  again  on  the  instant,  ready  to  fight 
like  a  very  little  demon,  should  he  dare  so  much  as  lay  a 
finger  on  her  hand.  She  resolved  anew  that,  though  a 
hundred  years  should  pass  before  they  two  escaped 
this  island  exile,  not  the  tiniest  bud  of  answering  love 
should  ever  sprout  in  her  breast. 

For  the  past  few  days  she  had  felt  a  new  sense  of 
security  and  ease.  The  man  with  whom  she  was  work 
ing  out  this  singular  and  intimate  existence  had  made 
no  sign  of  renewing  his  advances,  had  seemed  to  forget 
he  had  ever  broached  the  subject  of  his  passion,  and 
had  been  a  most  agreeable  companion,  cheerful,  re 
sourceful,  and  courageous  to  the  last  degree. 

Now  that  she  knew  what  unworthy  thoughts  still 
lingered  beneath  the  surface  of  his  calm,  indifferent 
demeanor,  not  even  their  earlier  friendship  seemed  to 
her  possible  again — and  for  this  she  was  disappointed 
and  annoyed. 

Her  glance  had  fallen  instantly  back  to  her  work. 
That  her  color  burned  up,  to  the  tips  of  her  ears  for 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  101 

Grenville  to  see  and,  perhaps,  enjoy,  she  felt  with  added 
irritation.  But  she  would  not  confess,  by  word  or  deed, 
she  understood  the  meaning  of  his  speech. 

When  she  spoke  she  employed  a  quiet  and  common 
place  tone  of  voice,  and  returned  to  impersonal  subjects. 

"  I  can  understand,"  she  said,  "  how  you  might  pos 
sibly  shoot  the  tiger,  but  I  thought  one  needed  fur 
naces,  tall  chimneys,  and  things,  to  melt  up  bronze  and 
brass." 

"  Dead  right,"  he  answered,  readily.  "  You  see, 
you've  got  such  a  grasp  on  things  that  I  never  cease 
to  be  surprised — and  delighted.  I've  engaged  quite  a 
chimney  already." 

She  forced  herself  to  continue  the  conversation,  if 
only  by  way  of  ignoring  the  personal  element  of  his 
answer. 

"  Engaged  a  chimney  ?  " 

"  You'll  see  about  that,  later.  If  getting  the  tiger 
were  only  half  as  easy  as  some  of  the  other  things  I  ex 
pect  to  accomplish,  I'd  certainly  be  tickled  clean  to 
death." 

She  felt — she  almost  knew,  indeed — that  she  and  her 
love  were  classified  among  the  things  he  expected  to 
"  accomplish "  so  easily  at  last,  and  her  hot  resent 
ment  burned  hotter.  She  was  tempted  to  flash  out  her 
wildest  cry  of  the  loathing — the  bitter,  eternal  loathing 
—his  words  had  begotten  in  her  bosom.  She  was 
tempted  again  to  a  desperate  wish  that  the  tiger  might 
rend  him  in  pieces — as  she  would  do  if  ever  he  touched 
her  again.  But  she  dared  not  trust  herself  to  speak, 
or  even  to  show,  by  the  slightest  sign,  that  his  threat  was 
comprehended.  She  clung  in  desperation  to  the  subject 
she  felt  to  be  safe. 


102  AS  IT  WAS 

"  Then — you  do  think  the  tiger  dangerous — hard,  at 
least,  to  kill?" 

"  Well,  I  wouldn't  call  him  exactly  plum  pudding  and 
gravy." 

"  Your  cannon  would  kill  him,  though,  of  course?  " 

"  If  he'd  pose  in  front  of  the  muzzle,  a  rod  or  so 
away." 

A  cold  chill  crept  along  her  nerves  at  thoughts  of 
the  savage  animal  she  herself  had  twice  encountered. 
She  wondered  just  what  Grenville's  method  would  be — 
in  overcoming  some  of  the  things  he  had  vowed  to 
conquer. 

"  You  hardly  expect  to  shoot  the  creature,  then,  after 
all?" 

He  held  up  the  fork  he  was  carving,  for  critical  ex 
amination. 

"  I'm  rather  inclined  to  favor  the  plan  of  leaving 
a  bait  in  the  jungle,  and  letting  go  a  bomb  when  he 
comes  to  dine." 

Her  natural  concern  for  the  man's  own  safety  could 
not  be  long  expelled. 

"How  shall  you  know  when  he  comes?"  she  in 
quired,  and  she  dared  look  up  as  before. 

Grenville  continued  to  bend  his  gaze  on  his  labor. 

"  I  expect  to  hang  around  and  see." 

A  sudden  fear  and  sinking  of  the  vitals  seized  her, 
unaware. 

"  But — doesn't  a  tiger  usually  feed  at  night?  " 

"  His  club  hours  are  usually  rather  late,  I  believe." 

"  And  you'll  wait  around  for  him  to  come  in  the 
dark?" 

"  What  else  can  I  do  ?  Can't  expect  him  to  'phone 
me  he's  arrived." 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  103 

"  Oh !  "  she  said,  impulsively,  "  couldn't  we  build  a 
wall  of  stone  around  enough  of  the  fruit  for  just  our 
selves  ?  I  could  help  at  that.  I'd  do  so  gladly !  " 

If  an  exquisite  thrill  shot  directly  to  the  deeps  of 
Grenville's  nature — a  thrill  aroused  by  her  courage,  her 
generous  spirit,  her  honest  and  helpful  sympathy — 
he  permitted  himself  to  make  no  sign.  Also,  he  took 
no  fulsome  flattery  to  his  soul.  But  he  pictured  her 
forth,  with  bleeding  hands,  and  torn  and  grimy  gar 
ments,  as  she  rolled  and  carried  great  stones  to  the 
brink,  to  supply  him  with  blocks  for  a  wall ;  and  his 
spirit  was  wondrously  glad  to  think  he  had  made  no 
error  of  judgment  in  appraising  her  character. 

That  all  she  could  do  she  would  do,  as  mere  as 
sistance — do  for  anyone  else  in  a  similar  situation,  he 
comprehended  fully.  But  he  felt  not  a  whit  less  ex 
ultant  for  the  knowledge  of  the  fact.  She  was  never 
for  a  moment  a  mere  useless  dependent.  She  was  daily, 
aye,  hourly,  assisting  in  his  wholly  unequal  combat  for 
their  lives,  and  this  was  a  joy  to  his  heart. 

But  he  spoke  with  his  usual  bluntness,  and  without  a 
single  hint  of  sympathy  in  all  she  had  eagerly  sug 
gested. 

"  Wholly  impractical  scheme.  I've  thought  of  a 
dozen  just  as  poor." 

Elaine  was  instantly  sorry  she  had  proffered  him 
her  help.  She  placed  a  withe  between  her  teeth,  bit 
through  it  neatly,  and  began  to  divide  it  with  her 
fingers. 

"  Here,  don't  do  that.  You'll  spoil  your  teeth,"  said 
Grenville,  brusquely.  "  I'll  split  you  enough  for  half 
a  day." 

She  made   no   reply   as   he  went   at  the  withes   and 


104       AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING 

split  them  with  skillful  ease,  but  she  hoped  he  could 
feel,  through  some  sensitive  chord,  how  intensely  she 
disliked  him. 

He  could  not.  "  I've  been  thinking,"  he  said,  "  I 
may  be  obliged  to  make  a  loom  to  weave  these  fibers 
into  some  sort  of  cloth  for  garments.  May  need  them 
before  we  get  away." 

Elaine  once  more  responded,  in  her  honest,  impulsive 
manner. 

"  I  could  knit  some  things,  I'm  sure,  if  you'd  cut  me 
a  pair  of  needles." 

"  Cut  'em  to-night,"  he  answered.  "  That  meat 
must  be  done,  and  my  potteries  need  attention." 

He  dropped  in  her  lap  the  forks  he  had  roughly  com 
pleted,  and  strode  away  to  his  fire. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

A   MIDNIGHT   VISITOR 

THE  porcupine  dinner  was  good.  In  its  ball  of 
clay,  Grenville  brought  it  to  the  cave  in  the  basket  that 
he  used  for  heavy  burdens. 

It  was  far  too  hot  to  be  handled  carelessly.  And 
when  he  broke  away  the  earthy  covering  and  leaves,  and 
arranged  the  steaming  pieces  on  the  platter  Elaine  had 
prepared,  it  was  perfectly  cooked,  as  tender  as  quail, 
and  of  a  flavor  surprisingly  fine. 

The  banquet,  however,  would  have  been  immeasurably 
improved  by  the  commonest  of  bread  and  potatoes.  To 
provide  some  palatable  substitute  for  these  essential 
commonplaces  of  civilization  became  another  of  Gren- 
ville's  problems,  which,  he  told  himself,  he  must  tackle — 
after  the  tiger. 

Everything  was  after  the  tiger,  or  else  over-fraught 
with  danger.  The  thought  of  this  made  Grenville  fret 
more  than  anything  demanding  his  attention.  That 
night,  when  Elaine  had  finally  retired,  he  went  to  his 
fuses,  broke  off  a  length,  and  returned  to  light  it  at  his 
fire.  It  was  still  too  damp,  from  the  juices  of  the  plant, 
to  burn  efficiently.  His  bomb  he,  therefore,  would  not 
make  until  the  following  afternoon. 

The  fire  about  his  potteries  he  was  now  permitting  to 
die.  It  could  not  be  altogether  abandoned,  since  a  too 
sudden  cooling  of  the  vessels  would  crack  and  ruin  every 

105 


106  AS  IT  WAS 

one.  Therefore,  from  time  to  time,  he  went  to  the  fur 
nace  to  regulate  the  heat.  He  had  leveled  a  rock  for 
a  table,  at  the  fireplace  near  his  cave,  and  on  this  he 
finally  spread  the  mysterious  paper  and  parchment  re 
covered  from  the  tube. 

They  had  been  all  day  neglected.  Grenville  had 
thoroughly  intended  a  daylight  examination  of  the 
parchment,  concerning  the  nature  of  which  he  was  con 
siderably  in  doubt. 

A  new  supply  of  whittled  wooden  "  tablets  "  on  which 
to  write  lay  ready  to  his  hand.  Scratching  at  his  head 
with  his  pencil,  he  studied  the  hieroglyphics  for  an  hour 
or  more  before  he  returned  to  the  written  sheet  with 
the  scrawl  spelled  out  in  cipher. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  his  mind  refused  the  task  on 
which  he  was  endeavoring  to  focus  his  attention.  De 
spite  his  utmost  efforts,  his  thoughts  would  return  to 
Elaine.  He  would  have  given  almost  his  hope  of 
eternity  to  secure  her  absolute  comfort  and  freedom 
from  anxiety.  And,  inasmuch  as  the  tiger  was  re 
sponsible  for  much  of  her  worry,  his  mind  was  made  up 
that  a  trial  should  be  made  to  slay  the  brute  without 
another  day's  delay.  .  .  .  It  is  always  so  easy  to 
plan! 

He  was  finally  staring  straight  into  the  fire,  though 
his  hand  still  rested  on  the  parchment  and  the  paper. 
The  flames  sank  lower  and  lower,  wavering  finally  like 
dull  red  spear-heads  among  the  glowing  embers. 

At  some  fancied  sound  he  turned  sharply  about,  to 
peer  through  the  darkness  of  the  trail.  All  appeared 
as  silent  and  calm  as  the  grave.  He  wondered  if,  per 
haps,  Elaine  had  arisen  to  come  to  her  door. 

She  was  not  to  be  seen  at  the  indistinct  entrance  of 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  107 

her  cave.  He  turned  once  more  to  stir  his  fire — then 
wheeled  like  one  on  a  pivot. 

His  senses  had  not  been  deceived.  Beyond,  in  the 
darkness,  a  few  feet  only  from  the  cavern  occupied  by 
Elaine,  two  blazing  coals  had  been  fixed  like  twin  stars 
by  his  movement. 

A  sudden  recollection  that  he  had  failed  to  close  the 
gap  in  the  wall  swept  hotly  and  accusingly  through  him. 
Some  beast  of  the  jungle  had  passed  the  barrier,  per 
haps  to  enter  the  very  cave  that  the  wall  had  been  built 
to  protect! 

With  a  note  that  broke  the  stillness  abruptly,  Gren- 
ville  caught  up  a  flaming  branch  of  wood  from  the 
mass  of  embers  in  the  fire,  and  sprang  to  the  path  to 
the  cavern. 

The  prowling  animal  stood  for  a  moment  undecided, 
then  started  as  if  to  spring  before  the  oncoming  man 
to  the  shelter  of  Elaine's  rock  retreat,  doubtless  to  turn 
there  in  desperation  for  a  mad  encounter  in  the  dark. 

But,  perhaps  by  a  yard,  the  man  was  there  before 
him.  The  brute,  even  then,  refused  to  retreat  towards 
the  trail  by  which  it  had  come.  It  leaped  towards  the 
place  where  Grenville  made  his  bed — a  shadowy  form 
that  he  knew  at  last  was  not  the  arrogant  tiger. 

It  turned  for  a  moment  in  the  mouth  of  the  cave,  as 
if  aware  this  smaller  retreat  was  too  shallow  for  ade 
quate  shelter.  But  before  the  man  could  crack  his 
fiery  brand  upon  the  creature's  head,  it  leaped  wildly 
past  him,  growling  a  savage  protest,  and  reluctantly 
retreated  towards  the  trail. 

One  more  attempt  it  made,  even  then,  to  escape  by 
Grenville's  active  form,  and  regain  the  larger  cavern. 
But  his  fierce,  hot  rushes  were  not  to  be  withstood.  It 


108  AS  IT  WAS 

finally  turned  with  another  sort  of  bellow,  and  cow 
ered  uncertainly  upon  the  downward  path. 

After  it  no  less  desperately  than  before,  Sidney 
plunged  along  the  steep  descent,  his  firebrand  brightly 
glowing  in  the  wind.  A  whine  of  fear  escaped  the 
jungle  creature  as  he  slunk  at  last  through  Grenville's 
gate  to  the  outer  precincts  of  the  wall. 

Almost  immediately  followed  a  frightful  din  of  growls 
and  wauling.  There  were  certain  deep  gutturals  and 
mouthings  that  Grenville  was  sure  his  tiger  only  could 
produce.  There  were  sounds  of  a  conflict,  fierce  and 
bloody,  retreating  down  the  trail.  Like  a  battle  of 
cats,  enormously  exaggerated,  with  screams  and  roars 
intermingled,  the  disturbance  rose  on  the  air.  But 
Grenville  had  blocked  his  gate  with  logs  and  bowlders, 
and  calmly  returned  to  his  place. 

Elaine  was  crouching  by  the  fire  when  he  came  once 
more  to  the  terrace.  She  had  called  him  in  vain,  and 
was  visibly  trembling  as  his  form  appeared  within  the 
glow. 

"What  was  it?"  she  cried.  "What  has  hap 
pened  ?  " 

"  Why — it  sounds  like  a  couple  of  jungle  politicians 
engaged  in  a  tariff  argument." 

"  You  weren't  down  there  ?  " 

"  I  strolled  to  the  wall,  to  make  sure  it  was  closed 
for  the  night." 

"  There  was  nothing — up  here  ?  I  dreamed  there 
was  something — fighting  with  you — some  terrible 
creature — like  that." 

She  waved  her  hand  towards  the  hideous  sounds,  re 
treating  swiftly  in  the  darkness. 

"  Can't  understand  such  a  dream,"  he  said.    "  We've 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  109 

had  no  corned  beef  and  cabbage.  You'd  better  go 
back  and  try  again." 

He  started  at  once  for  his  pottery  fire,  in  his  brusque, 
indifferent  manner. 

Elaine  stood  there,  watching  his  figure,  retreating 
in  the  darkness,  and  made  no  move  to  retire.  Like  a 
dim  silhouette  of  Vulcan,  projected  against  the  red 
dened  glare  of  his  furnace,  he  presently  appeared, 
from  the  place  where  she  eagerly  kept  him  in  her  vision. 
She  felt  she  could  not  bear  to  creep  away  until  he 
should  return. 

She  saw  him  stand  for  a  little  time  observing  his 
waning  heaps  of  embers  before  he  faced  about  to  re 
turn  once  more  to  his  seat.  Then,  slowly,  as  she  heard 
his  footsteps  approaching,  she  glided  silently  back  to 
her  shelter,  and  so  at  length  within  the  door.  Even 
then  she  lingered  eagerly,  to  make  certain  he  was  not 
far  away.  Until  he  sat  down,  and  stirred  up  the 
flames,  she  did  not  return  to  her  couch. 

"  To  be  so  perfectly  fearless ! "  she  murmured,  half 
aloud,  and  so  crept  away  to  her  dark,  uncomfortable 
cave. 

Grenville  pocketed  the  documents,  still  lying  face  up 
on  his  rock.  He  finally  slept  beside  the  fire,  to  finish  his 
plans  in  dreams. 

These  plans,  which  were  vague  enough  that  night, 
matured  fairly  early  in  the  morning.  He  had  re 
solved  to  try  for  the  tiger  at  the  spring. 

Fully  expecting  to  encounter  abundant  signs  of  the 
animal  conflict  of  the  midnight  hours,  he  descended 
the  trail  before  Elaine  had  appeared,  intent  upon  re 
moving  such  evidence  of  trouble  as  might  be  found  dis 
turbingly  near  their  tower. 


110  AS  IT  WAS 

There  was  nothing  at  all  along  the  trail  to  show  that 
a  fight  had  taken  place.  Where  the  grass  and  shrub 
bery  began  in  the  clearing  below  the  walls,  there  was 
one  mere  tuft  of  hair  upon  a  twig.  But  a  rod  removed 
from  this  there  was  at  least  a  hint  as  to  what  might 
have  caused  the  engagement. 

This  was  a  trampled  and  slightly  reddened  ring  where 
something  had  been  eaten — some  quarry  doubtless  cap 
tured  by  the  smaller  of  the  prowlers,  who  had  found 
himself  suddenly  attacked  and  driven  from  the  feast  by 
the  master  hunter  of  the  jungle,  on  whose  sacred  pre 
serves  he  had  probably  dared  to  poach. 

Grenville  proceeded  to  the  spring,,  not  only  to  fetch 
a  fresh  supply  of  water,  but  as  well  to  indulge  in  a 
vigorous  washing  of  his  hands  and  face,  and  to  make 
some  observations. 

He  found  that  by  breaking  several  limbs  a  none  too 
comfortable  seat  in  the  branches  of  a  rubber  tree  might 
be  prepared,  provided  he  could  climb  to  the  perch. 
With  a  very  long  fuse  attached  to  his  bomb  he  might 
be  enabled  to  execute  a  coup  upon  the  tiger,  under 
cover  of  the  night.  Could  he  only  slay  some  animal 
— another  wild  hog,  for  instance — and  place  it  here  as 
a  lure,  his  chances  of  securing  the  tiger's  attendance 
would  be  infinitely  increased. 

A  number  of  things  were  essential  to  his  plan.  The 
first,  a  rope  ladder,  was  the  simplest  of  the  lot.  That 
he  could  fashion  with  ease.  His  greatest  problem 
was  the  fire  with  which  to  ignite  his  fuse,  should  he  wish 
to  explode  his  bomb.  The  wood  he  had  found,  that 
so  amazingly  retained  its  glow,  might  answer  his  needs 
for,  perhaps,  two  hours,  as  he  sat  high  up  in  the  tree. 
It  was  all  he  possessed,  and  upon  it  he  must  needs  rely. 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  111 

But  how  he  should  manage  to  discern  his  beast,  in  the 
darkness,  when  the  prowler  came  at  last  to  drink,  was 
more  than  he  could  determine. 

"  A  dead-fall  might  do  for  the  brute,"  he  solilo 
quized  aloud,  as  the  business  revolved  in  his  mind.  "  But 
I  couldn't  get  one  ready  by  to-night." 

For  several  reasons  a  dead-fall  was  impracticable. 
The  thought  was,  therefore,  abandoned,  while  the  de 
tails  of  loading  and  placing  the  bomb  were  elaborately 
planned.  So  vivid  was  Grenville's  imagination  that  al 
ready  he  pictured  himself  high  in  the  tree,  heard  the 
tiger  come  to  lap  the  water,  lighted  his  fuse — and  ended 
that  trouble  forever. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

TRUANTS  OUT  OF  SCHOOL 

HE  returned  to  the  terrace,  lightly  whistling.  The 
morning  was  perfect,  a  delightfully  refreshing  zephyr 
lightly  stirring  in  the  trees.  Elaine  beheld  him  ap 
proaching,  and  nodded  from  the  cliff. 

"The  jugs  look  beautiful!"  she  called,  enthusi 
astically.  "  The  fire  is  barely  warm." 

He  had  brought  their  supply  of  water  in  the  sea- 
shell,  so  variously  employed.  Before  providing  fruits 
for  their  breakfast,  he  went  to  his  furnace  with  Elaine. 
The  firing  was  complete,  though  the  vessels  were  not 
yet  cool.  A  few  were  cracked,  slightly,  despite  the 
care  that  Grenville  had  exercised,  and  one  was  hope 
lessly  ruined.  However,  he  felt  the  product  as  a 
whole  was  surprisingly  satisfactory,  especially  some  of 
his  molds  and  the  crucibles  meant  for  his  foundry. 

"  At  noon  we'll  fill  a  jug  with  water,"  he  said,  "  and 
you'll  find  it  will  keep  surprisingly  cool.  The  clay  is 
slightly  porous.  The  water  oozes  through,  evaporates 
on  the  surface,  and  thereby  chills  the  contents.  They 
use  nothing  else  in  Egypt,  and,  I  think,  in  Mex 
ico." 

"  If  it  weren't  for  the  tiger,"  said  Elaine,  "  I  could 
often  go  to  the  spring." 

"  Right  ho ! "  said  Grenville,  cheerily,  believing  he 
understood  a  wish  that  lay  beneath  her  speech.  "  That 

112 


AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING       113 

reminds  me.  I  believe  I  could  manage  to  deepen  a  basin 
I  saw  in  the  rock  on  our  lowermost  shelf  above  the  sea, 
back  yonder,  and  easily  fill  it  by  dipping  salt  water 
with  a  jug  on  the  end  of  a  rope.  Any  nymph  should 
enjoy  such  a  pool." 

"  Oh ! "  said  Elaine,  delighted  by  the  thought ;  "  do 
you  really  think  you  could  make  it?  " 

"  Well — I've  thought  of  it,  you  see,  on  an  empty 

stomach.  After  breakfast There's  quite  a  bit  to 

do,  by  the  way,  after  breakfast." 

With  the  fruits  now  presently  gathered,  he  brought 
a  fresh  supply  of  creepers  and  leaves  of  the  sisal,  for 
labors  soon  to  begin.  And  while  Elaine  prepared  what 
was  left  of  the  meat,  and  the  other  things  afforded  by 
their  larder,  he  went  to  the  shelf  of  rock  so  completely 
protected  by  its  wall,  and  made  up  his  mind  that,  with 
one  good  tool,  plus  a  hammer,  he  could  hew  out  a  bath 
with  amazingly  little  trouble. 

"  Meant  to  go  fishing  this  morning ! "  he  confessed, 
as  the  sight  of  the  clear,  limpid  tide  below  aroused  new 
desires  in  his  being.  "  There  must  be  oysters  and 
many  good  fish,  if  I  had  the  time  to  get  them." 

Fish-lines  and  other  "  diversions  "  were  again  post 
poned  when  the  breakfast  was  concluded,  while  Gren- 
ville  braided  fibers  and  tied  stout  rungs  along  their 
length,  to  form  a  rude  sort  of  ladder.  This  he  car 
ried  to  the  spring  at  length,  and  hung  across  the  limb 
of  his  tree  by  lifting  its  end  on  a  pole. 

Once  in  the  tree,  he  labored  diligently,  breaking  or 
cutting  away  a  number  of  interfering  branches,  and 
arranging  a  makeshift  for  a  seat,  on  which  to  rest  as 
he  waited.  The  bomb  would  be  better  prepared  in  the 
afternoon. 


114  AS  IT  WAS 

On  his  way,  returning  to  the  camp,  he  gathered  a 
bundle  of  the  special  wood  that  he  used  to  retain  his 
fire.  It  was  while  he  was  thus  engaged,  in  an  unex 
plored  part  of  the  thicket,  that  he  came  upon  a  fallen 
tree,  fairly  brittle  with  resin.  He  snapped  off  branch 
after  branch  of  this,  till  his  load  was  too  heavy 
to  carry.  With  all  he  could  take  he  climbed  the 
trail. 

A  piece  that  he  tried  at  the  embers  of  his  fire  blazed 
promptly  enough,  producing  a  volume  of  thick,  black 
smoke,  and  a  flame  that  burned  slowly  down  the  wood, 
as  he  held  the  lighted  end  aloft. 

"  If  we  happen  to  need  a  torch,"  he  said  to  Elaine, 
who,  as  usual,  was  watching  results,  "  this  will  always 
be  stored  here,  ready."  He  placed  the  fagots  in  a 
near-by  hollow  of  the  rocks,  against  possible  future 
need. 

There  was  nothing  further  to  be  done  at  the  spring 
until  the  hour  of  sunset.  The  jugs  and  vessels  from 
the  furnace  were  found  to  be  sufficiently  cool  for  hand 
ling,  and  were  brought  to  the  rear  of  his  shelter. 

The  molds  he  had  made  excited  anew  his  various  am 
bitions. 

"  To-morrow  I  shall  start  operations  on  the  smelter," 
he  told  his  companion.  "  No  tools  means  no  boat — 
and  no  boat  means  no  escape." 

Elaine  felt  a  bound  of  excitement  in  her  veins  at  the 
mere  suggestion  of  escape.  She  inquired :  "  How  long 
will  it  take  to  build  your  boat?  " 

"  Can't  tell,"  said  Grenville,  briefly.  "  Never  built 
one  on  a  toolless  island  before." 

"  I  only  meant  about  how  long,"  Elaine  explained. 
"  It  will  take  at  least  a  week,  I  suppose." 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  115 

"  More  likely  two,"  he  answered,  as  before.  "  Mean 
time  I'm  going  fishing.  Want  to  come?  " 

Elaine  had  little  liking  for  any  such  off-hand  invita 
tion. 

"  Not  at  present,  thank  you."  She  turned  away 
from  him,  coldly. 

"  It's  an  art  and  a  sport  you  ought  to  cultivate,"  he 
informed  her,  cheerfully.  "  Might  sometime  keep  you 
from  starving."  He  gathered  up  the  necessary  para 
phernalia,  adding,  "  I  hope  the  fish  will  bite,"  and 
started  on  his  way. 

He  had  fully  two  hundred  feet  of  the  line  he  had 
braided  from  fibers.  It  was  thoroughly  "  waxed  "  with 
juices  from  the  rubber  tree,  and  although  it  was  fre 
quently  knotted  along  its  length,  it  was  strong  as  a 
wire,  and  not  inclined  to  kink. 

His  wooden  hook  was  clumsy,  but  tough  as  steel, 
while  its  point  and  its  barb  were  exceedingly  sharp. 
Also,  the  bait  he  thrust  upon  it  concealed  it  well,  ex 
cept  where  the  line  was  stoutly  attached.  With  one  of 
his  old  rusted  hinges  for  a  sinker,  it  was  presently 
ready  for  use. 

He  had  chosen  that  protected  shelf  of  rock  whereon 
he  meant  to  hew  out  a  bath  for  Elaine,  since  this  was 
the  nearest  possible  approach  he  could  make  to  the 
water  from  the  cliff.  There,  alas !  at  the  very  first 
cast  attempted,  his  line  was  atrociously  tangled,  while 
the  hook  remained  suspended  some  ten  feet  up  from  the 
tide. 

In  patience  he  sat  himself  down  on  the  ledge  to  re 
store  the  line  to  order.  Elaine,  who  had  doubtless  pon 
dered  wisely  on  his  observation,  anent  fishing  as  an  art 
to  be  acquired,  came  half  reluctantly  wandering  over 


116  AS  IT  WAS 

to  his  side,  while  Grenville  was  still  engrossed  with  his 
mess  of  tangles.  She  watched  him  in  silence  for  a 
time,  then,  finally,  sank  to  the  bench  of  rock  and  began 
to  lend  her  assistance.  He  made  not  the  slightest  com 
ment,  and  even  failed  to  thank  her  when  the  task  was 
finally  concluded. 

Once  again,  at  last,  he  swung  the  line  for  a  cast  far 
out  in  the  waters.  It  seemed  to  Elaine  the  hook  and 
sinker  would  never  cease  sailing  outward.  Yet  they 
fell  and  sank,  much  closer  in  than  even  Grenville  had 
expected. 

He  began  to  pull  it  back  at  once,  since  there  might 
be  rocks  on  which  the  hook  would  foul,  and  his  labor  be 
wholly  lost.  The  sinker,  and  then  the  bait,  emerged 
from  the  crystal  depths  of  brine  without  so  much  as  a 
nibble.  Again  Grenville  sent  them  full  length  out, 
and  again  drew  in  with  no  results,  save  a  possible  in 
quiry,  far  below,  where  he  fancied  he  saw  a  gleam  of 
silver. 

The  third  cast  fared  no  better  than  the  others. 
But  the  fourth  was  no  more  than  started  homeward 
when  a  sharp,  heavy  strike  was  briskly  reported  on  the 
line,  and  Grenville's  jerk  responded. 

"  Oh !  you've  got  one ! — you've  got  one !  "  cried 
Elaine,  with  all  the  true  pleasure  of  a  sportsman. 
"  Please,  please  don't  let  it  get  away ! " 

Grenville  was  taking  no  chances  on  slack  in  the  line, 
with  his  simple  wooden  hook.  He  hauled  in,  hand  over 
fist,  while  his  catch  fought  madly  to  escape.  With  a 
wild  inward  dash  and  a  mighty  flop,  the  silvery  captive 
on  the  barb  leaped  entirely  out  of  the  water. 

Grenville's  answering  maneuver  with  the  line,  snatch 
ing  up  fully  a  yard  of  its  length,  and  instantly  stoop- 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  117 

ing  to  clutch  it  low  again,  was  all  that  saved  the  situa 
tion.  His  fish  barely  touched  the  surface,  after  that, 
then  was  swiftly  sailing  up  in  air. 

He  was  a  beautiful  specimen  of  his  kind,  but  the 
species  was  new  to  his  captor. 

"  What's  the  use  of  going  to  school?  "  was  Gren- 
ville's  query,  his  eyes  as  bright  as  a  boy's.  "  The  next 
one  may  be  a  whale." 

The  next  one,  however,  was  a  long  time  coming. 
When  it  was  hooked,  the  wise  fisherman  knew  it  was 
small,  and,  most  unexpectedly,  he  delivered  the  line  to 
Elaine. 

"  Now,  then,  give  him  the  dickens ! "  he  instructed. 
"  You  want  to  make  him  think  he's  struck  by  light 
ning." 

Surprised  as  she  was,  and  unprepared  for  this  par 
ticular  favor,  Elaine  did  her  best,  and  hauled  in  val 
iantly,  but  the  captive  got  away. 

Five  or  six  casts  were  made  after  that  before  the 
hook  was  once  more  nibbled.  Grenville  was  rather  in 
clined  to  change  for  a  spot  more  popular  with  the 
purple  water's  tribe.  Yet  he  made  another  of  his 
longest  throws,  and  had  drawn  in  much  of  the  dripping 
line  when  a  clean  young  tortoise  so  deeply  swallowed  the 
hook  that  he  could  not  have  spat  it  out  to  save 
him. 

The  fight  he  offered  was  tremendous.  He  dived  and 
skittered  through  the  crystal  tides  like  some  giant 
saucer  of  dynamics.  Whole  lines  of  the  brightest  sil 
ver  bubbles  arose  as  he  visibly  flapped  about  and  scuttled 
towards  the  bottom.  The  line  raced  wildly  here  and 
there,  cutting  the  waves  with  the  sound  of  something 
hot  and  sizzling. 


118  AS  IT  WAS 

But  it  held  for  a  full  half  hour  of  fighting.  It  was 
strong  enough  for  the  weight  of  a  man,  as  Grenville 
afterward  declared.  It  conquered  the  tortoise  finally, 
and  drew  him  up,  but  not  before  he  had  wearied  the 
fisherman's  muscles  and  greatly  fatigued  Elaine,  who 
was  panting  with  sheer  excitement. 

"  There  you  are,"  said  Grenville,  boyishly  exultant, 
"  he's  wash  basin,  comb,  a  few  hairpins,  and  what-not, 
all  in  one,  not  to  mention  turtle  soup." 

There  was  no  more  fishing  done  that  afternoon,  nor 
were  knitting  needles  carved.  What  with  his  turtle, 
his  fish,  the  digging  of  several  yams,  and  the  making 
of  his  bomb,  Grenville  was  amply  employed. 

Elaine  was  at  length  made  acquainted  with  his  pro 
gramme  for  the  night.  She  made  no  effort  to  dissuade 
him  from  his  purpose,  but  excitement  rose  in  her  bosom. 
She  feared  for  what  the  tiger  might  by  mischance  ac 
complish,  and,  also,  she  felt  that  in  some  occult  way 
her  own  fate  and  the  animal's  were  alike,  if  not  re 
lated — that  if  such  a  brute  must  helplessly  succumb  to 
the  man's  superior  prowess,  there  was  no  chance  at  all 
for  anything  as  feeble  as  herself. 

A  wild,  unreasoning  hope  was  in  her  breast  that  the 
tiger  might  escape,  or  die  in  some  different  manner — 
do  something,  almost  anything,  rather  than  contribute 
one  more  testimony  to  Sidney  Grenville's  might.  She 
could  not  wish  the  creature  to  live,  nor  yet  to  injure 
this  bold,  audacious  man.  She  only  knew  that  some 
dread  of  the  being  who  could  dare  engage  or  attack 
this  savage  monster  of  the  jungle  was  once  more  as 
sailing  her  quaking  heart  and  stirring  her  nature  to 
rebellion. 

In  a  manner  that  was  largely  automatic,  she  assisted 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  119 

in  providing  an  early  evening  meal.  It  was  dusk,  how 
ever,  when  Grenville  was  finally  ready  to  leave  her  on 
the  hill. 

She  followed  him  down  to  the  gate  against  the  wall, 
in  the  way  of  a  child  who  fears  long  hours  alone. 

"  Good-night,"  he  said  to  her,  cheerily.  "  If  you 
hear  my  little  imitation  of  Bunker  Hill — you  might 
drop  one  tear  for  the  departed." 

Her  dread  of  the  night,  and  the  outcome  of  his  ex 
cursion,  had  suddenly  increased.  "  If  you  kill  him," 
she  said,  "  you'll  come  home?  " 

He  nodded.  "  Tickled  to  death  and  bragging  like 
a  pirate." 

Then  he  placed  the  logs  and  rocks  against  the  bar 
rier,  and  once  more  bade  her  good-night.  She  waited 
till  his  final  footsteps  died  away  in  the  gloom,  then 
hastened  once  more  to  the  brink  above  for  a  final  glimpse 
of  his  form. 

He  had  passed,  however,  across  the  clearing,  and 
not  even  the  spark  that  he  bore  to  the  gathering  dark 
ness  threw  her  back  a  dull  red  ray. 

He  had  lost  little  time  after  leaving  the  foot  of  the 
trail.  The  jungle  was  wrapped  in  somber  shadows  as 
he  made  his  way  to  the  spring. 

Some  nimble  little  creature  leaped  lightly  away  when 
he  came  to  the  place.  Otherwise  there  was  not  a  sign 
or  a  sound  to  disturb  the  ringing  silence.  His  bomb 
he  placed  beside  the  ebon  water,  where  a  ledge  of  rock 
would  throw  its  violence  outward.  The  fuse,  which  he 
carefully  uncoiled  and  laid  upon  the  grass,  was  amply 
long  to  meet  his  needs. 

At  length,  with  his  fire-stick  held  between  his  teeth, 
he  ascended  the  ladder  to  his  perch.  The  end  of  the 


120       AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING 

fuse  he  now  brought  to  the  limb,  conveniently  near  for 
lighting.  Then  he  settled  himself  to  wait. 

Once  he  blew  on  the  coal  slowly  eating  his  brand,  to 
clean  the  incandescent  cone.  Of  a  sudden,  then,  he 
heard  the  sound  of  something  directly  beneath  him, 
rudely  brushing  the  foliage  aside. 

His  heart  for  a  second  stood  still. 


CHAPTER  XV 

A    NIGHT    IN    THE    JUNGLE 

IT  was  not  the  tiger  Grenville  heard  above  the 
pounding  of  his  heart. 

The  squealing  of  some  little  insignificant  beast,  ap 
parently  more  in  sport  than  apprehension,  betrayed 
very  soon  the  fact  that  no  sinister  visitor  was  even 
prowling  near.  So  heavy  a  sound  as  the  little  brute 
had  made  would  doubtless  be  avoided  when  the  master 
of  the  jungle  should  arrive. 

All  the  excitement  unduly  engendered  in  Grenville's 
system  rapidly  subsided.  He  listened  as  intently  as 
before,  and  peered  below  in  an  effort  to  pierce  the 
densest  shadows,  but  could  not  detect  the  form  or 
whereabouts  of  his  early  visitor.  He  doubted  if  this 
small  creature  drank,  since  the  pool  of  the  spring  was 
still  quite  clearly  visible,  like  a  surface  half  of  ebony 
and  half  of  tarnished  silver. 

At  length  the  absolute  silence  prevailed  as  it  had 
before.  Save  for  the  lightest  of  zephyrs,  that  barely 
sufficed  to  fan  the  topmost  foliage,  not  even  the  slight 
est  stir  could  be  detected.  The  darkness  below  became 
absolute,  where  shadows,  tree-trunks,  and  thicket  all 
blended  into  one.  A  portion  only  of  the  pool  was  now 
discernible,  and  in  this,  clearly  mirrored,  were  two  bright 
stars,  that  burned  dull  gold  in  the  ebon. 

Grenville  sat  back  in  his  lumpy  perch  and  blew,  as 
121 


122  AS  IT  WAS 

before,  on  his  coal.  Its  slender  wreath  of  invisible 
smoke  ascended  pungently.  The  hour  was  still  very 
early  for  nocturnal  business  to  begin.  The  tiger  might 
not  come  till  midnight.  Sidney  reflected  that  the 
brute  would  doubtless  eat  before  a  drink  would  be 
desired. 

He  regretted,  vainly,  that  no  bait  had  finally  been 
provided.  Even  the  fish  they  had  only  partially  eaten 
for  dinner  might  have  been  attractive  to  the  tiger. 
Any  price  now  would  be  cheap  enough  to  rid  themselves 
of  this  terror. 

His  reflections  ran  the  gamut  of  their  island  world, 
and  sped  far  over  seas.  He  thought  of  that  day  with 
Fenton,  and  of  what  this  friend  would  think.  Had 
they  heard  the  news,  in  that  far-away  home,  of  the 
steamer  gone  down  with  every  soul  ? 

He  thought  of  the  morning  he  had  greeted  Elaine — 
and  the  something  that  had  happened  to  his  nature. 
He  remembered  in  detail  every  hour  of  every  day  they 
had  spent  together  on  the  steamer.  Then  the  hideous 
details  of  all  that  last  experience,  in  the  storm  and 
night,  paraded  by  for  his  review. 

One  after  another  the  swiftly  moving  procession  of 
events  brought  him  back  to  this  present  hour.  He  was, 
then,  confronted  once  again  by  the  questions — how 
long  would  it  last? — how  might  it  end?  The  island's 
mystery  impinged  once  more  on  his  varied  cogitations, 
making  him  wish  he  might  have  had  a  torch,  by  which 
to  study  the  documents  reposing  in  his  pocket. 

Mentally  picturing  forth  the  signs  on  the  leathery 
piece  of  parchment,  he  busied  himself  for  above  an  hour 
for  a  clew  as  to  what  they  could  mean.  They  sug 
gested  nothing  to  his  mind  that  made  the  slightest 


IN  THE  BEGINNING 

sense.  He  tried  to  recall  the  characters  on  the  "  ex 
planatory  "  sheet.  But  this  was  a  hopeless  task. 

Aware  of  the  value  of  deduction,  he  began  on  a  rea 
soning  line.  Anything  to  occupy  his  thoughts  and 
time  till  the  hour  when  the  tiger  might  have  fed,  and 
would  come  for  his  evening  drink,  was  highly  wel 
come. 

He  began  by  a  natural  presumption  that  both  the 
documents,  found  together  in  the  tube,  and  so  carefully 
concealed,  related  to  this  particular  island.  Did  they 
not,  then  of  what  possible  value  would  be  their  final 
decipherment  and  solution  ? 

Granting  this  premise,  then  what  should  follow  next? 
Certainly  some  mention  of  the  island — with  its  name — 
in  the  written  message,  at  least.  There  would  naturally 
be,  in  these  circumstances,  some  word  in  the  cipher 
spelling  "Island" — but  what  would  the  place  be 
called  ? 

Such  places,  he  knew,  were  frequently  named  quite 
unofficially,  by  wandering  sailors,  adventurers,  and 
drifters  on  the  sea.  Attempting  to  level  his  state  of 
mind  to  that  of  such  human  beings,  he  wondered  what 
he,  if  left  to  himself,  would  christen  this  bit  of  rock 
and  jungle. 

So  often,  he  reflected,  a  place  was  named  for  its  ap 
pearance.  This  one,  for  instance,  might  aptly  be  called 
"  Three  Rocks,"  "  Three  Walls,"  or  "  Three  Towers." 
He  remembered,  finally,  the  abominable  sounds  produced 
by  the  tides  twice  daily — sounds  he  had  thought  might 
have  frightened  the  natives  away.  The  cognomen, 
"  Haunted  Island,"  might  not  seem  wholly  inappropri 
ate  to  a  superstitious  mind. 

The  more  he  reflected,  the  more  certain  he  felt  that 


AS  IT  WAS 

some  one  of  the  names  suggested  to  his  mind  might  also 
have  occurred  to  those  of  others.  Considerably  aroused 
in  his  centers  of  curiosity,  and  convinced  that  even  by 
the  dull  cherry  glow  of  his  firebrand  he  might  be  en 
abled  to  confirm  or  confute  his  theory,  he  moved  suf 
ficiently  to  draw  from  his  pocket  the  closely  folded  docu 
ments,  and  held  them  up  to  his  torch. 

The  one  with  the  inexplicable  signs  he  promptly  re 
turned  as  of  no  immediate  avail.  At  that  instant  his 
attention  was  arrested,  by  a  sound  below  him  on  the 
earth. 

Something,  he  thought,  was  lapping  at  the  water ! 

He  leaned  far  forward,  tense  and  rigid  on  the  limb, 
shielding  his  spark  in  one  of  his  hands,  while  he  peered 
about  the  pool. 

There  was  nothing  he  could  possibly  discern — no 
form  of  a  head  projected  out  to  obliterate  his  stars. 
Yet  the  sounds  at  the  edge  of  the  silent  basin  rose  dis 
tinctly  to  his  ears. 

All  but  ready  to  bend  to  the  end  of  his  fuse,  and 
touch  his  fire  upon  it,  he  paused,  looked  closer,  saw 
ripples  move  to  disturb  his  mirrored  planets — and  then 
beheld  some  form  darkly  limned  on  the  waters. 

For  a  moment  he  was  certain  his  insolent  tiger  was 
there.  Some  huge  blunt  muzzle  seemed  inkily  contrasted 
with  the  dull  gray  surface  of  the  spring.  Then  the 
muzzle  suddenly  detached  itself  from  the  imagined  form 
behind.  The  entire  figure  of  some  little  beast  was  seen 
as  it  waded  the  pool. 

Once  more,  disgustedly,  Grenville  reclined  and  re 
laxed  the  strain  on  his  nerves.  It  was  some  time,  then, 
before  he  thought  to  return  to  his  quest  of  the  cipher. 
He  remembered,  finally,  he  had  meant  to  count  the  char- 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  125 

acters  in  some  of  the  words  to  see  if  the  number  of  signs 
thus  used  might  not  correspond  with  the  number  em 
ployed  in  "  Island,"  "  Three,"  "  Haunted,"  "  Wall,"  or 
"  Tower." 

A  dull  red  glow,  of  most  unsatisfactory  dimensions 
and  illuminative  capacity,  was  the  most  he  could  pro 
cure  from  his  brand.  It  barely  sufficed  to  present  the 
"  writing  "  to  his  vision.  For  a  moment,  indeed,  he  de 
spaired  of  discriminating  clearly  between  the  ending 
of  one  word  and  the  beginning  of  the  next.  For 
tunately,  however,  the  writer  had  used  large  periods  be 
tween  his  every  word. 

Considerably  to  Grenville's  satisfaction,  the  third 
word  thus  denoted  he  was  almost  convinced  was 
"  Three."  Not  only  had  it  the  proper  number  of  let 
ters,  or  signs,  but  the  two  final  characters  were  ex 
actly  alike,  and  both  were  the  crosses  he  had  previously 
selected  as  probably  representing  E. 

The  next  word  along,  he  was  equally  certain,  was 
either  "Wall"  or  "Hill."  Its  two  final  characters 
were  the  same  particular  sign  repeated,  while  its  mean 
ing,  in  conjunction  with  the  preceding  word  "  Three," 
fulfilled  his  logical  deduction. 

A  word  of  two  characters  followed  this,  and  then,  to 
Grenville's  intense  delight,  occurred  a  word  of  seven 
letters,  which  not  only  met  the  numerical  requirements 
of  "  Haunted,"  but,  also,  in  proper  sequence,  employed 
the  various  letter-signs  already  somewhat  proved  by 
the  word  he  felt  certain  was  "  Three." 

This  was  more  than  sufficient  evidence  on  which  to 
base  a  test  of  the  message's  sense,  if  it  were  not,  in 
deed,  enough  of  a  key  with  which  to  decipher  the  en 
tire  inscription. 


126  AS  IT  WAS 

Eagerly  fumbling  in  his  pocket  for  his  pencil,  with 
the  intention  of  attempting  a  bit  of  substitution  of  let 
ters  for  the  signs  contained  upon  the  sheet,  Grenville 
shifted  his  position — and  the  paper  fell  from  his  fingers, 
fluttering  obliquely  from  his  sight. 

He  leaned  quickly  forward,  as  if  to  follow  the  flight 
of  the  missive  through  the  darkness  so  densely  spread 
beneath  him.  But  it  disappeared  almost  instantly — 
with  its  mystery  still  unsolved. 

On  the  point  of  descending,  at  whatever  cost,  to  re 
cover  the  important  bit  of  foolscap,  Sidney  was  halted 
in  movement  and  impulse  by  some  new  arrival  at  the 
spring. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  two  animals  were  there,  as  he 
presently  discovered.  That  neither  was  his  tiger  he 
was  presently  persuaded,  but  that  one  or  both  were 
fairly  large  seemed  equally  assured. 

It  was  certainly  not  a  time  to  leave  the  tree.  And 
while  the  reflection  that,  perhaps,  the  silent  visitors 
were  leopards  was  presented  to  Grenville's  mind,  and  a 
momentary  thought  of  slaying  the  pair  by  igniting  his 
fuse  became  a  strong  temptation,  he  contented  himself 
by  staring  more  or  less  blindly  down  upon  the 
place  where  they  seemed  to  be,  and  bided  his  time  as 
before. 

At  nine  o'clock  it  seemed,  to  the  cramped  and  im 
patient  hunter  in  the  tree,  that  ages  had  passed  since 
he  bade  good-night  to  Elaine  and  came  to  this  lonely 
vigil.  There  were  sounds  in  abundance  about  him  now, 
arising  from  time  to  time.  Some  were  the  cries  of  the 
lesser  beasts,  in  the  clutches  or  jaws  of  their  captors; 
some  were  sounds  of  munching.  All  of  them  indicated 
rather  grimly  the  tiger's  absence  from  the  scene.  There 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  127 

would  be  no  petty  murderers  thereabout  when  the  arch 
brute  came  for  his  drink. 

Leaning  back  once  more,  and  long  since  weary  of 
his  fruitless  adventure,  Grenville  stared  at  the  glowing 
cone  of  fire  slowly  eating  away  his  brand.  It  was  last 
ing  far  longer  than  he  had  believed  would  be  possible — 
yet  certainly  less  than  one  hour  more  could  the  consum 
ing  substance  serve  to  give  him  a  spark. 

He  could  almost  fancy  he  saw  a  face,  in  the  film  of 
ash  upon  its  surface.  He  was  sure  the  face  was  de 
veloping  a  likeness  to  Elaine.  Even  the  soft  clear  radi 
ance  of  her  cheek —  How  eagerly  she  had  asked 
concerning  his  coming  "  home  " — but  how  far  it  seemed 
away.  .  .  .  He  could  hear  her  saying  "  You'll  come 
home  .  .  .  come  home  .  .  .  come  back.  .  .  ." 

He  awoke  with  a  start,  for  something  had  burned  him 
on  the  wrist. 

The  firebrand,  all  but  consumed  in  his  relaxing 
fingers,  had  dropped  and  deposited  a  blister.  In  his 
sudden  move  to  rid  himself  of  the  torture  to  his  flesh,  he 
threw  off  the  red-hot  candle  of  wood,  and  it  fell  straight 
downward,  sizzling  once  where  it  struck  in  a  trickle  of 
the  water. 

Reviling  himself  for  a  stupid  blunderer,  and  arous 
ing  vividly  to  a  sense  of  where  he  was,  and  why,  he  be 
gan  to  question  the  expediency  of  returning  at  once  to 
the  terrace.  He  was  still  debating  the  wisdom  of 
the  move,  when  the  question  was  decided  by  the 
tiger. 

That  belated  midnight  reveler — the  old  roue  of  the 
jungle — was  ushered  in  with  questionable  pomp — the 
panic  of  lesser  brutes  in  flight.  And  when  he  drank, 
beside  the  useless  bomb,  there  was  no  mistaking  his  pres- 


128       AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING 

ence.  He  presently  paused,  half  satisfied,  and  lifted  his 
head,  against  the  shudder  of  the  water,  to  sniff  at  the 
jungle  breeze. 

The  wind  had  betrayed  the  presence  of  the  man,  and 
the  great  brute  voiced  his  satisfaction. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

A   DEAD    MAN'S    SECRET 

THAT  was  a  long,  weird  night  in  the  jungle. 

What  hour  it  was  the  tiger  finally  departed  was  more 
than  Grenville  could  have  told.  And  whether  the  day 
light,  finally  approaching,  or  a  royal  disgust,  or  some 
easily  captured  morsel,  had  served  to  urge  the  brute 
upon  his  way,  was  equally  unknown. 

Grenville  descended  from  his  perch  at  last,  when 
the  palms  and  ferns  had  darkly  emerged  from  the  vel 
vety  blackness  of  the  thicket.  He  took  up  his  club, 
left  the  bomb  in  its  place,  and,  searching  about,  recov 
ered  the  sheet  of  parchment  dropped  in  the  darkness. 
Aware  that  the  silently  moving  enemy  might  still  be 
lurking  by  the  pathway,  he  made  his  way  no  less 
boldly  from  the  shadows,  and  came  duly  to  the  hill. 

His  chagrin  was  complete  when  he  told  Elaine  that 
his  night  had  been  spent  in  vain.  She  had  scarcely 
slept,  as  he  could  see,  for  her  face  was  still  pale  with 
worry,  while  her  eyes  showed  her  lack  of  rest. 

"  I  shall  try  again  to-night,"  he  said,  but  from  that 
he  was  dissuaded. 

The  strain  was  too  great  upon  Elaine,  if  not  upon 
himself.  He  presently  promised  to  wait  a  day,  and  see 
what  might  develop.  He  could  not  subject  his  com 
panion  to  another  such  session  of  agonizing  worry  as 
Elaine  had  undergone  until  he  felt  more  certain  of  re 
sults. 

129 


130  AS  IT  WAS 

But  to  wait  a  day  in  idleness,  while  he  felt  that  every 
hour  that  passed  might  bring  new  dangers  upon  them, 
could  scarcely  accord  with  his  intentions. 

He  declared  the  tiger  an  arrant  coward,  who  dared 
not  confront  him  in  the  day. 

"  We  have  faced  far  greater  perils  than  this,"  he 
told  her,  as  they  ate  their  simple  breakfast,  "  and  we 
may  be  called  upon  to  face  the  like  again.  We're 
enormously  fortunate  to  have  nothing  more  than  this 
striped  beast  to  limit  our  freedom  on  the  island." 

Elaine  could  have  thought  of  countless  other  ani 
mals,  including  snakes,  that  would  amply  curtail  her 
roaming  inclinations,  but  she  was  not  in  the  least  in 
the  habit  of  rehearsing  her  many  dreads. 

Grenville  went  promptly  to  work,  after  breakfast, 
fetching  clay  in  the  basket  from  the  pit.  It  was  not 
brought  up  to  the  terrace,  but  dumped  in  a  heap  beside 
the  hollow  tree,  in  the  burned  space  under  the  walls. 
This  tree,  he  at  last  explained  to  Elaine,  he  intended 
to  use  as  a  smelter. 

"  It's  a  natural  chimney  I've  annexed,"  was  the  way 
he  presented  the  problem.  "  If  I  built  a  fire  in  it  now, 
however,  it  would  burn,  and  be  destroyed.  I  intend 
to  line  it  with  clay — plaster  it  on,  inside,  some  eight  or 
ten  feet  high.  Then  when  this  fire-resisting  substance 
dries,  I  can  smelt  my  metal  and  run  it  in  the  molds. 
The  draught  will  make  a  prodigious  heat — far  more 
than  brass  requires." 

"  I  see,"  said  Elaine.  "  Meantime  I  am  utterly 
idle." 

"  I'll  cut  you  those  needles.  You  can  knit,"  he  said, 
"  unless  you  prefer  to  go  fishing." 

He  had  come  to  the  camp  for  one  of  the  jugs  in 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  131 

which  to  carry  water  for  the  clay.  This  task  was  tem 
porarily  abandoned  while  he  sat  in  the  shade,  beside 
Elaine,  and  carved  out  the  promised  tools.  These  were 
made  of  wood,  instead  of  bone,  since  the  latter  material 
was  far  too  hard  for  his  fragment  of  a  blade,  and  one 
of  the  woods  provided  by  the  jungle  was  so  straightly 
grained  and  elastic,  that  even  a  slender  splinter  would 
bend  like  steel  before  it  broke. 

For  a  short  time  after  they  were  finished,  he  sat  there 
to  watch  the  craft  displayed  by  Elaine's  nimble  fingers, 
as  a  slender  bit  of  the  fiber  stuff  began  to  accumulate 
in  stitches. 

"  You  were  made  for  a  home-builder's  mate,"  he 
said,  and  arose  and  left  her  to  her  thoughts,  and  to  cer 
tain  inflammable  emotions. 

He  carried  his  jug  down  the  trail  and  to  the  spring, 
resuming  the  business  in  hand.  The  sight  of  the  pool 
not  only  served  to  arouse  his  disgust  anew,  but  he  was 
likewise  reminded  of  the  documents,  reposing  still  un 
read  in  his  pocket.  The  bomb,  he  knew,  should  be 
carried  back  to  camp,  lest  the  fuse  become  dampened  in 
the  thicket.  With  this  and  his  jug  full  of  water,  he 
hastened  back  to  the  foot  of  the  trail — and  forgot 
them  both  forthwith. 

The  half  sheet  of  paper,  readable  at  last,  had  en 
slaved  him  then  and  there. 

He  sat  on  a  rock,  with  the  paper  on  his  knee,  and 
was  lost  to  all  things  else. 

For  a  moment  he  thought,  perhaps,  he  had  dreamed 
of  obtaining  the  key  to  the  hidden  message.  But  one 
hurried  glance  at  the  words  he  had  read  convinced  him 
the  trick  had  been  done. 

On  the  back  of  the  sheet  he  began  at  once  to  jot 


132  AS  IT  WAS 

down  the  signs  of  which  he  felt  most  certain.     The 
results,  as  he  made  them,  were  these: 

THREE  HILL 

Mfr  ?  t*          #4-ff"fr 

HAUNTED 
#  /  V3  1-1-  % 

The  next  word,  according  to  his  deductions,  should 
be  "  Island."  This,  he  felt,  was  indisputably  confirmed 
by  the  fact  it  contained  precisely  the  required  number 
of  "  letters,"  with  the  sign  for  L,  A,  and  D,  already  dis 
covered,  occupying  their  proper  positions.  He,  there 
fore,  added: 


to  his  growing  collection  of  letters,  and  promptly  pro 
duced  the  following  results  by  the  process  of  sub 
stitution  : 

VNDER   TREE    THREE    HILL 
-1  R  HAUNTED    ISLAND 

<*»E  T  IN  H1<HH 

7TA  T  E  R  SXR  I  N<k 

I#  E         7THB  N  N  T  I  S  E 

L  T  U  D 
n   R  T  A  N  T 


IN  THE  BEGINNING      •  133 

There  could  be  so  little  doubt,  after  that,  concerning 
such  words  as  "  Under,"  "  High,"  "  Important,"  and 
"  Water,"  which  supplied  the  characters,  U,  G,  M,  P, 
W,  and  O,  which  was  also  suggested  in  "  Or,"  before 
"  Haunted,"  that  a  bit  of  additional  substitution  very 
promptly  cleared  the  entire  affair. 

Grenville  jotted  it  down,  to  make  sense,  in  the  fol 
lowing  fashion : 

"  Under  tree,  Three-Hill,  or  Haunted  Island,  Cave. 
Get  in  (during)  high  water  (in)  Spring  time  when 
noise  loud.  Important.  Make  no  mistake.  Map  on 
Buli  shows  same." 

The  one  word  which  he  felt  to  be  doubtful  was 
"  Buli,"  which,  he  confessed,  might  as  readily  be 
"Zuli,"  "Juli,"  or  "  Quli,"  but  this  was  of  no  sig 
nificance,  one  way  or  another.  Its  meaning  was  still 
obscure. 

There  were  several  things  in  the  message  or  state 
ment,  however,  that  confirmed  his  earlier  uneasiness. 
The  principal  of  these  was  the  statement  that  it  was 
important  for  the  possible  seekers  of  some  cavern  under 
the  greater  wall  of  rock  to  visit  the  island  only  during 
the  time  when  the  hideously  haunting  sounds  were  at 
their  height.  This  argued,  he  thought,  that  the  sounds 
would  finally  subside,  or  altogether  cease,  when  com 
plications — doubtless  in  the  form  of  visitors — might  be 
expected  to  develop. 

That  the  visitors  would  be  natives  and,  probably, 
Dyaks,  Grenville  could  have  no  doubt.  As  to  what 
there  was  in  the  cave  beneath  the  rock,  he  had  small 
curiosity  only,  since  it  was  hardly  likely  such  tools 
as  he  desired  would  be  so  concealed  from  a  prying 
world,  and  tools  alone  had  value  for  him  now. 


134        AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING 

He  could  not  doubt,  however,  that  something  there 
was  in  the  cave  here  described,  for  which  men  had  risked 
their  lives.  He  thought  of  the  headless  skeletons,  and 
then  of  the  mummy  in  chains. 

Suddenly,  at  thought  of  that  guardian  of  the  barque, 
his  heart  gave  an  added  leap.  He  snatched  from  his 
pocket  the  parchment  referred  to  as  a  map.  He  could 
instantly  see,  by  the  light  of  day,  that  the  leathery  sub 
stance  was  leather,  indeed,  of  the  most  grewsomely  re 
pellent  description !  It  was  simply  tanned  human 
skin! 

And  abruptly  he  understood  that  phrase — "  Map  on 
Buli  shows  same."  The  pyramids  represented  the 
island's  three  great  hills,  and  other  signs  the  cave.  The 
pole  with  a  knob,  on  the  tallest  hill,  was  the  tree  so 
near  his  camp. 

Aye,  the  thing  was  a  map  in  very  truth — and  once 
it  had  been  ON  Buli !  For  Buli  was  he  who  sat  in  the 
barque,  chained  fast  to  prevent  his  escape ! 

This  map  he  had  borne,  tattooed  on  his  breast,  from 
which  it  had  finally  been  stripped! 


CHAPTER  XVII 

FEVERISH    EMPLOYMENTS    HALTED 

A  SPECIES  of  horror  attacked  the  man  on  whom  the 
truth  had  flashed.  What  abominable  cruelties  and 
crimes  lay  back  of  the  business  thus  finally  to  some 
extent  revealed,  he  could  only  faintly  imagine. 

He  felt  quite  certain  of  one  or  two  things,  that  were 
not  to  be  told  to  Elaine.  First,  he  could  not  for  a  mo 
ment  doubt  that  the  barque  had  been  brought  to  the 
island  with  the  sole  intent  and  purpose  of  looting  the 
cave  of  treasure.  He  was  equally  convinced  its  crew 
had  been  foully  slaughtered — and  their  heads  removed. 
This  smacked  of  Dyak  atrocities.  Finally,  there  was 
ample  evidence  that  men  of  some  sort  had  visited  the 
island  long  since  the  wreck  was  stranded,  and  prob 
ably  within  the  year. 

He  had  not  required  the  warning  made  "  important  " 
on  the  sheet  to  urge  him  to  haste  in  preparing  a  boat 
with  which  to  attempt  an  escape.  To  learn  that  the 
haunting  sounds  of  the  tide  would  at  length  subside 
was  a  new  and  disquieting  addition  to  what  he  had 
previously  deduced.  He  had  accurately  hit  upon  the 
natives'  superstitious  awe  of  the  sounds  to  account 
for  the  island's  desertion. 

How  long  these  invaluable  shrieks  and  moans  might 
be  counted  upon  to  continue  became  a  vital  question. 
Could  they  only  last  till  a  boat  could  be  completed, 

135 


136  AS  IT  WAS 

launched,  provisioned,  and  directed  away  to  a  safer 
retreat,  he  would  ask  for  nothing  more. 

He  returned  again  to  an  inspection  of  the  "  map  " — 
now  singularly  plain.  The  island  was  graphically  rep 
resented  by  the  three  conventional  "  hills,"  with  the  sign 
for  water  inscribed  at  either  end.  The  tree,  so  con 
spicuous  upon  the  tallest  wall  of  rock,  was  no  less  vividly 
portrayed. 

Below  this  identifying  picture  of  the  place  the  hill 
with  the  tree  was  repeated,  with  the  cave  and  design 
for  water,  while  just  to  the  right  the  detail  of  the 
cavern,  with  more  water  signs,  indicating  both  high 
and  low  tide,  was  depicted  someAvhat  enlarged.  The 
cartouch  was  not  so  readily  comprehended.  Grenville 
was  inclined  to  believe  it  spelled  some  crude  king's 
name,  while  the  scarab,  or  beetle,  was,  of  course,  an  old 
Egyptian  symbol  concerned  with  life  and  death. 

It  would  hardly  have  been  human  of  Grenville  not  to 
wonder  about  the  cave  or  to  contemplate  a  visit  there 
— just  to  have  the  merest  look  about  the  place.  He 
even  went  so  far  as  to  wonder  if  its  entrance  might  not 
be  effected  from  the  upper  brink,  by  means  of  a  longer 
rope  ladder  than  the  one  he  had  already  made. 

He  did  not,  however,  seriously  contemplate  delaying 
affairs  more  important  to  gratify  this  whim.  Indeed, 
he  was  fired  with  new  impatience  to  work  night  and  day 
against  the  hour  of  escape.  The  thought  put  him 
back  on  his  feet,  then  and  there,  with  the  documents 
stored  away.  There  was  no  time  to  lose — not  a  mo 
ment — not  even  to  fool  with  the  tiger ! 

He  left  his  bomb  and  its  fuse  upon  the  rocks,  and 
carried  the  water  to  his  clay.  To  line  his  hollow-tree 
furnace  as  promptly  as  possible  must  be  his  first  con- 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  137 

cern.  No  boat  could  be  made  without  suitable  tools, 

and He  wondered  how  he  should  make  it,  even 

then. 

The  log  he  had  found  on  the  day  they  arrived  was 
such  a  huge  affair  to  attack  with  the  implements  his 
limited  craft  made  possible,  despite  all  the  bronze  he 
could  melt.  And  yet,  without  it,  he  was  helpless.  The 
raft  was  far  too  clumsy  for  propulsion.  It  afforded 
practically  nothing  transformable  into  a  boat,  as  he  had 
no  nails,  no  saw,  no  anything  with  which  it  might  be 
first  dismembered,  and  finally  reconstructed. 

"  By  Jove !  "  he  exclaimed  to  himself,  aloud,  as  a  new 
thought  crept  subtly  to  his  brain.  "  I  can  hollow  the 
log  with  fire !  " 

He  went  at  once  to  the  straight  and  ample  tree- 
trunk,  lying  propped  upon  a  rock.  Its  ends  had  already 
been  partially  consumed,  and  thereby  rounded,  in  the 
flames  that  had  ravaged  the  place.  How  he  could  cover 
such  parts  as  he  must  not  burn  with  a  plaster  of  his  clay, 
Grenville  instantly  conceived.  And  there  was  the  log 
already  lifted  away  from  the  earth,  for  the  fire  to  be 
kindled  beneath! 

The  wisdom  of  starting  this  process  at  once,  even 
before  his  tools  were  made,  was  immediately  apparent. 
Back  to  his  clay  heap  he  hastened  eagerly,  and,  paw 
ing  it  over  to  form  a  hollow  pyramid,  he  poured  in 
the  water  to  soak  through  the  mass,  and  so  make  it 
soft  enough  to  use. 

A  new,  unsparing  spasm  of  labor  seized  the  man  in 
that  hour,  and  he  worked  unremittingly.  He  felt  he 
had  loafed  away  his  time  which  important  requirements 
demanded. 

The   task   of  digging   the   clay   from   the   pit   and 


138  AS  IT  WAS 

fetching  it  up  to  his  hollow  tree  in  the  basket,  made  of 
creepers,  was  interminable.  The  sticks  and  wooden 
"  spades  "  he  had  managed  to  fashion,  not  only  broke 
from  over-use  and  straining,  but  they  were  dull  and 
heavy  and  awkward.  The  basket  was  scarcely  more 
convenient  than  the  implements  in  fulfilling  its  simple 
function.  He  could  manage  to  carry  its  weight  upon 
his  head,  but  at  this  he  had  meager  skill. 

For  three  days  he  worked  to  get  the  clay,  or  to  work 
it  up  and  apply  it  with  his  hands.  A  considerable  por 
tion  of  the  fallen  log  was  thus  quite  promptly  covered. 
He  had  then  to  wait  for  the  clay  to  dry  before  his  fire 
could  be  ignited. 

The  supply  of  clay  he  had  managed  to  amass  was 
clearly  insufficient.  He  paused,  on  one  of  those  warm 
and  breathless  afternoons,  to  set  a  number  of  traps  in 
the  animal  pathways,  and  construct  an  awning  for 
Elaine.  This  was  merely  a  structure  before  her  cave, 
to  support  a  roof  of  leaves  and  grasses.  It  afforded 
a  shade,  however,  that  was  exceedingly  grateful. 

There  were  numerous  interruptions,  also,  for  pro 
curing  meat  and  fruits.  Grenville  had  brought  down 
a  pheasant  with  the  last  of  his  two  remaining  arrows. 
And  not  even  a  quill,  supplied  by  the  wings,  had  blown 
away  from  his  "  store."  He  had  cut  new  shafts  by 
his  evening  fire,  and  tipped  them  with  points  of  sharp 
ened  wood.  Elaine  had  feathered  them  skillfully,  after 
once  being  properly  directed. 

Not  a  sign,  all  this  time,  had  Grenville  seen  of  the 
tiger,  still  haunting  the  jungle.  He  had  been  too  in 
dustriously  engrossed,  either  to  wonder  or  to  care  where 
the  brute  had  recently  been  lurking. 

On  the  fourth  warm  morning  of  his  toil  about  the 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  139 

furnace,  the  reminder  came  home  with  a  jolt.  Some 
few  yards  away  from  the  clay  pit's  edge  lay  the  master 
murderer's  kill.  It  was  part  of  a  freshly  eaten  boar. 

Grenville  was  neither  revolted  nor  angered  by  the 
sight.  He  was  suddenly  excited  with  a  new  hope  of 
getting  a  certain  robe  to  lay  at  the  feet  of  Elaine.  It 
never  occurred  to  his  eager  mind  that  the  brute  who 
bore  it  might  be  lying  near,  in  a  mood  to  resent  his 
intrusion  here,  where  the  kingly  banquet  had  been  left 
for  a  sitting  again  that  night. 

His  first  concern  was  to  keep  away,  as  far  as  possible, 
lest  the  smell  of  his  boots  offend  the  lordly  brute  when 
he  finally  returned.  Meantime  such  preparations  as 
the  scene  made  possible  must  not  be  unduly  delayed. 

The  trees  above  the  reddened  spot  afforded  more 
choice  for  his  necessary  perch  than  he  had  found  on  the 
previous  occasion.  He  rapidly  sketched  his  plans  for  the 
night  with  mental  notes  and  observations.  Where  the 
bomb  could  lie,  to  prove  most  efficacious,  and  still  at 
the  same  time  offer  no  great  menace  to  himself,  was 
readily  determined.  The  ladder  required  for  ascending 
to  his  stand  would  better  be  hung  on  the  side  most  re 
moved  from  the  trail,  for  which  he  must  a  little  clear 
the  thicket. 

His  club,  without  which  the  visit  here  at  sunset  was 
not  to  be  undertaken,  could  lean  on  the  tree-trunk 
while  he  sat  above,  since  there,  should  any  need  arise, 
he  could  find  it  in  the  dark. 

He  abandoned  all  thought  of  treading  back  and 
forth  from  the  clay  pit  to  his  smelter,  and  carried 
his  basket  away.  The  ladder  he  brought  at  once  from 
the  spring,  and,  expending  an  hour  in  more  careful 
preparation  for  his  comfort  than  had  even  been  pos- 


140  AS  IT  WAS 

sible  before,  he  finally  departed  from  the  site  of  the 
tiger's  gory  refreshment,  well  satisfied  with  all  he  had 
been  able  to  accomplish. 

He  returned  to  the  camp,  made  a  careful  examination 
of  the  bomb  and  its  fuse,  and  selected  the  wood  to  be 
finally  used  in  preserving  his  essential  spark  of  fire. 
Then,  willing  at  last  to  turn  his  attention  again  to 
his  daily  occupation,  he  once  more  descended  to  his 
clay-covered  log  and  found  the  plaster  sufficiently  dry 
upon  it  for  the  first  of  the  burning  to  be  started.  He 
called  to  Elaine,  who  threw  him  down  some  glowing 
embers,  from  the  fire  always  burning  near  his  shelter. 

All  day  he  found  abundant  employment,  working 
with  flame  and  clay.  The  eating  away  of  the  log  in  a 
manner  to  leave  a  hollow  shell,  could  not,  he  found,  be 
accomplished  as  swiftly  as  he  had  hoped.  Moreover, 
the  fires  required  his  constant  attention,  lest  they  burn 
too  deeply  to  right  or  left,  and  thus  destroy,  or  con 
siderably  impair,  the  walls  he  desired  to  protect. 

In  the  afternoon  he  permitted  this  fire  to  die.  Un 
til  more  clay  could  be  plastered  about  and  the  blackly 
charred  portions  of  the  wood  removed  with  a  tool,  the 
process  must  be  halted.  He  had  still  a  small  section 
inside  his  natural  smelter  to  cover  before  he  could  un 
dertake  the  melting  of  his  metal,  but  his  heap  of  clay 
was  gone. 

Once  more,  as  he  had  on  the  previous  occasion,  he 
informed  Elaine  in  the  late  afternoon  of  his  intentions 
for  the  night.  Her  look  of  alarm  was  the  only  sign 
that  escaped  her  resolute  being.  She  had  silently  noted 
his  earlier  activity  with  the  bomb  and  his  fire-preserv 
ing  wood;  she  was  not  surprised  by  his  plans. 

"  I  shall  not  be  down  at  the  spring,"  he  said,  "  but 


IN  THE  BEGINNING 

over  there  nearer  the  clay  pit.  I  have  found  a  place 
where  I  rather  expect  our  friend  to  arrive  at  a  decently 
early  hour." 

Her  eyes  were  startled  and  wide. 

"  Do  you  mean  he  sleeps  where  you  have  been  walk 
ing  every  day  ?  " 

"  No — certainly  not.  But  I'm  sure  he  was  there 
last  night — and  I  hope  he'll  come  again." 

She  was  quick  to  divine  the  unpleasant  truth  that 
Grenville  was  striving  to  avoid. 

"  You  mean — he's  been  eating  there — and  left  some 
awful » 

"  Good  pork,"  he  agreed,  as  he  took  up  his  bomb ; 
"  a  fine  wild  boar — enough  to  have  done  us  for  a 
week." 

She  resumed  her  work  of  knitting,  on  a  small,  round 
basket-like  affair. 

"  I  hope  there  are  more  of  those  hogs  for  him  to 
get,"  she  told  him,  quietly.  "  I  hope  they  are  easy 
prey." 

"  Right  ho !  But  I  trust  he'll  not  be  off  with  the  old 
pig  before  he  is  on  with  the  new.  I  want  him  to  come 
to  the  party  there  to-night." 

Elaine  looked  up  for  a  moment,  and  thrilled  to  the 
look  in  his  eyes. 

"  Yes,"  she  said,  "  I  suppose  you  do." 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

AT  THE  TIGER'S  KILL 

THE  island  twilight  was  brief.  When  the  sun  de 
parted  from  that  speck  of  verdure  in  the  purple  sea, 
the  covetous  darkness  seemed  to  form  like  a  presence 
that  had  crouched  to  bide  its  time. 

Grenville  was  early  on  the  scene  of  the  tiger's  previ 
ous  feast.  He  had  no  idea  how  soon  after  sundown 
the  jungle  monarch  might  appear.  It  was  not  such  a 
place  as  inspired  hilarious  joy  in  the  heart,  in  any  cir 
cumstances.  Moreover,  one  last  examination  of  the 
bomb  and  fuse,  and  one  clear  impression  of  the  features 
beneath  and  about  his  tree,  seemed  to  Sidney  a  wise 
precaution. 

The  day  had,  therefore,  barely  ended  when  he 
climbed  aloft  to  his  perch.  The  end  of  the  fuse  was 
tied  to  a  limb  a  little  removed  from  his  feet.  He  closed 
his  eyes  and  found  it  with  his  hand,  by  way  of  making 
certain  it  should  not  be  missed  in  the  dark.  The  larger 
and  denser  of  the  forms  below,  created  by  shadows  and 
growing  plants,  he  noted  in  their  relation  to  the  kill. 
The  latter  was  not  to  be  clearly  seen,  since  a  screen  of 
leaves  he  had  purposely  left  to  conceal  his  presence 
from  the  banqueter,  served  to  shield  it  from  his  view. 

Finally,  closing  his  eyes  again,  he  practiced  retreat 
ing  behind  the  trunk  itself,  as  he  knew  he  must  do  when 
nothing  could  be  seen  and  his  fuse  was  finally  lighted. 

142 


AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING       143 

This  was  rather  a  delicate  operation  to  manage  in  the 
dark.  He  made  up  his  mind  it  must  be  calmly  done, 
for  ample  time  would  be  provided  by  the  generous 
length  of  fuse. 

This  length,  by  the  way,  was  considerably  less  than 
he  had  formerly  employed.  The  bomb  was,  therefore, 
nearer  to  his  stand.  Yet  the  bulk  of  the  tree-trunk  was, 
he  thought,  an  entirely  adequate  protection  should  he 
have  the  delight  of  hearing  his  powder  explode. 

Through  the  lattice  of  leaves  he  presently  beheld 
the  last  of  the  day's  dying  splendor.  The  army  of 
shadows,  already  on  the  march,  was  taking  rapid  pos 
session  of  all  the  jungle  deeps.  The  same  impatience 
he  had  felt  before,  the  same  vague  dread  and  loneliness 
previously  experienced,  and  the  same  slow  drag  of  time 
impressed  themselves  upon  his  senses. 

He  wondered  how  long  his  brand  would  last,  although 
it  was  longer  than  the  other.  He  wondered  about 
Elaine,  on  the  hill,  and  how  tedious  the  hours  would 
seem  to  her.  But  the  constant,  underlying  worry  was — 
when  would  the  tiger  arrive? 

Elaine's  suggestion  was  a  bother.  Might  there  not 
be  hogs  so  plentiful,  quarry  so  readily  captured,  that 
the  overdisdainful  monarch  would  prefer  warm  meat 
to  cold? 

There  was  no  mysterious  cipher  to  be  studied  here 
to-night.  There  was  nothing,  in  fact,  with  which  to 
pass  the  time.  Not  even  a  new  speculation  concerning 
the  cave  and  the  rotting  barque  arose  to  give  him  en 
tertainment.  The  haunting,  suggestive  stillness  en 
gulfed  him  where  he  sat.  The  world  below  had  merged 
in  one  featureless  gloom.  Except  for  a  few  fringed 
patches  of  sky  between  the  leaves  and  branches,  there 


144  AS  IT  WAS 

was  nothing-  but  velvety  blackness  to  be  seen  above  or 
below. 

He  waited  and  waited,  a  time  that  seemed  eternal. 
His  resting-place  was  hard  and  uneven.  One  of  his 
legs  was  cramped.  To  shift  about  and  make  no  noise 
was  not  an  easy  matter. 

Without  the  slightest  warning,  suddenly  down  be 
low  him  something  leaped  and  crashed  through  the 
thicket  with  a  most  unexpected  sound.  Whatever  it 
was,  it  went  bounding  off,  recklessly  parting  the  jungle. 
Some  creature  in  fright  it  undoubtedly  was — and  Gren- 
ville  was  instantly  rigid  and  alert  for  the  next  develop 
ment. 

He  was  certain  the  tiger,  coming  to  his  feast,  had 
thrown  some  timid  creature  into  a  panic  of  blind  and 
desperate  fear.  He  listened,  with  all  his  powers  of  con 
centration,  for  the  sounds  that  should  presently  suc 
ceed. 

But  save  for  another  plunging,  far  beyond,  there  was 
absolute  silence  as  before.  For  fully  half  an  hour 
after  that  the  stillness  was  well-nigh  insupportable,  so 
fraught  was  it  all  with  the  tragic  sense  of  noiseless  life 
where  both  hunted  and  hunters  moved  about  with  the 
cushioned  feet  of  shadows. 

Far  off  towards  the  spring,  or  the  estuary,  a  dis 
turbance  finally  arose.  It  was  neither  loud  nor  clear. 
It  seemed  to  interpret  some  struggle  for  life,  or  pursuit 
of  the  weak  by  the  strong.  It  approached  for  a  time, 
then  ceased  for  nearly  half  a  minute,  only  to  break 
into  clearer  accents  of  some  brute's  agony,  poignant  but 
mercifully  brief. 

At  this  the  discouragement  in  Grenville's  breast  was 
unavoidably  increased.  He  was  certain  the  tiger  had 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  145 

taken  fresher  prey,  and  would  now  ignore  his  former 
kill.  So  intent  were  his  senses  on  that  far-off  bit  of 
jungle  drama  that  he  failed  to  detect  a  nearer  sound 
repeated  beneath  his  feet. 

When  his  sharp  ears  abruptly  warned  him  that  some 
thing  was  moving  down  below,  an  extraordinary  climax 
to  his  adventure  was  swiftly  coming  to  a  focus. 

Some  creature  had  come  to  the  tiger's  kill — of  that 
there  could  be  no  doubt.  It  was  lapping,  or  chewing 
at  the  meat ! 

Unable  to  distinguish  the  slightest  thing  in  all  that 
Stygian  darkness,  Grenville  paused,  with  his  brand 
slightly  shielded  from  the  creature's  possible  notice, 
waiting  a  moment  to  confirm  the  fact  that  a  banqueter 
was  present  before  he  touched  the  fuse. 

A  tremendous  roar  instantly  startled  the  silence,  a 
few  feet  beyond  the  boar's  remains.  Before  the  man 
could  move  a  hand,  either  to  light  the  ready  fuse  or 
steady  himself  in  the  branches,  some  heavy  form  was 
hurled  against  the  tree  in  which  he  sat — and  that  some 
thing  was  climbing  madly  upward! 

Only  a  tremor  had  shivered  through  the  trunk,  but 
the  limbs  were  bent  and  the  foliage  stirred  as  if  from 
a  breath  of  heavy  wind.  That  the  creature  might  run 
against  himself  and  turn  to  fight,  in  its  double  fear  and 
desperation,  Grenville  was  keenly  aware. 

Subconsciously,  also,  he  was  equally  sure  the  tiger 
was  below.  The  catlike  thing  in  the  tree  with  himself 
had  undoubtedly  dared  to  sit  down  at  the  huge  brute's 
kill,  to  flee  for  its  life  a  moment  later. 

Instinctively  turning  to  protect  himself  and  thor 
oughly  disturbed  by  this  unforeseen  complication,  Gren 
ville  heard  his  unwelcome  companion  utter  one  sudden 


146  AS  IT  WAS 

whine,  of  surprise  and  added  terror,  as  it  came  abreast 
him  in  the  branches. 

It  dared  not  retreat,  and,  therefore  in  a  wilder  panic, 
clawed  its  way  higher  up  the  tree.  The  limbs  continued 
to  shake  their  leaves  for  another  protracted  moment. 
Then  the  beast  found  a  place  to  halt  above  his  head, 
and  doubtless  glared  down  upon  the  unknown  peril 
which  man  supplies  to  all  the  brutes. 

Grenville  recovered  his  wits  as  best  he  might.  He 
had  no  particular  dread  of  the  animal  crouched  some 
where  in  his  neighborhood,  but  neither  did  he  relish 
its  presence.  What  effect  the  affair  would  have  on 
the  creature  he  had  come  there  to  engage  he  could  not, 
of  course,  determine. 

He  bent  to  listen  for  sounds  from  the  space  below. 
Not  the  faintest  suggestion  of  a  moving  or  feeding  ani 
mal  could  his  focused  senses  detect.  He  thought  per 
haps  the  tiger  might  have  smelled  him  or  seen  him  in 
the  tree.  It  occurred  to  him,  also,  the  brute  might  be 
waiting  for  the  catlike  thief  to  descend  and  be  slain  at 
the  kill. 

But  a  far  more  likely  supposition  was  that  the  tiger, 
having  sniffed  the  taint  of  some  beast  without  caste, 
now  left  on  the  meat  that  was  sacred  to  himself,  had 
disdained  to  touch  it,  and  had  gone  away,  to  return  to 
the  place  no  more. 

Ready  to  curse  the  despicable  animal  now  sharing 
the  tree's  security  with  himself,  Sidney  was  all  but  re 
signed  to  another  long  night,  spent  in  vain  and  in  utter 
discomfort,  when  once  again  a  lapping  sound  came 
crisply  to  his  attention. 

His  brute  was  at  the  feast ! 

With  heart  abruptly  pounding  and  senses  suddenly 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  147 

tense,  Grenville  leaned  down,  with  his  glowing  brand, 
to  complete  his  work  for  the  night. 

His  hand  felt  blindly  along  the  limb,  to  pick  up  the 
end  of  the  fuse.  But  someway  the  place  was  lost.  More 
eagerly  then,  and  telling  off  each  twig  like  a  sign  that 
blazed  the  trail,  he  explored  the  branch  anew. 

He  found  the  fiber  that  had  held  the  fuse — but  the 
fuse  itself  was  gone!  The  panic-stricken  creature  that 
had  climbed  the  tree  had  clawed  or  broken  it  down ! 

A  bitterer  disappointment  to  Grenville  could  scarcely 
have  been  planned.  He  was  sickened  all  through  by  dis 
gust,  and  a  sense  of  the  utter  uselessness  of  all  he  had 
striven  to  accomplish.  With  fire  in  hand,  the  bomb  all 
laid,  and  the  tiger  actually  present — he  was  helpless, 
after  all! 

It  was  futile  to  rage  at  the  cowering  beast,  above 
him  somewhere  in  the  darkness.  He  glanced  up  once 
and  saw  its  eyes — two  blazing  coals  of  fear  and  malice, 
like  near-by  sinister  stars ! 

"  By  Heavens !  I'll  not  be  cheated !  "  he  murmured 
to  himself.  A  mad  new  thought  had  possessed  him. 

The  fuse  had  been  drawn  about  the  tree  before  it 
could  be  fastened  near  his  perch.  Had  it  fallen 
straight  down,  when  torn  from  its  hold,  it  would  still 
lie  close  at  hand. 

His  ladder  was  hidden  from  the  tiger's  position  by 
the  tree.  Any  sounds  he  must  make  might  be  thought 
to  be  those  of  the  cat.  There  was  no  particular  danger 
in  descending  to  the  ground — with  the  ladder  near  with 
which  to  regain  a  safe  position. 

Noiselessly,  yet  not  without  excitement,  he  began  his 
retreat  from  the  branches.  With  every  step  he  paused 
for  a  bit,  to  listen  to  the  sounds  of  the  tiger. 


148  AS  IT  WAS 

The  brute  was  seemingly  quite  engrossed  in  the  busi 
ness  of  filling  his  belly.  But,  despite  his  utmost  efforts 
at  silence,  the  leaves  of  one  of  the  branches  loudly 
rustled  as  Grenville's  weight  was  intrusted  to  the 
ladder. 

He  halted  and  held  his  breath.  The  tiger  continued 
his  eating.  Holding  his  firebrand  firmly  in  his  teeth, 
Grenville  slowly  and  cautiously  descended,  with  the 
furtive  alertness  of  a  thief. 

When  he  reached  the  earth,  he  was  certain  his  heart 
would  betray  his  presence  with  its  pounding.  He 
leaned  there,  heavily,  against  the  tree,  to  still  the  mad 
leap  of  his  pulses.  Then,  at  length,  he  began  to  feel 
about  for  the  fuse  that  should  be  at  his  feet. 

It  was  not  to  be  found — and  he  moved  a  little  out 
ward.  His  hand  came  in  contact  with  a  long,  slender 
thing — but  it  proved  to  be  a  creeper. 

Further  and  further  out  he  moved,  blindly  groping 
with  his  fingers.  He  encountered  a  shrub,  and,  fum 
bling  between  it  and  the  tree,  bethought  him  to  feel 
about  its  crest.  There  he  found  one  end  of  the  fuse 
he  sought — but  it  proved  that  the  length  had  been 
broken!  He  held  the  useless  end! 

One  despair  after  another  had  seized  him  within  an 
endless  minute.  More  recklessly,  in  a  burning  fever 
of  impatience,  he  pawed  about  and  moved  even  closer 
to  the  tiger — whose  sounds  were  horribly  near. 

He  could  almost  have  uttered  a  cry  of  joy  when  the 
severed  fuse  was  discovered.  He  waited  for  nothing, 
but  immediately  pressed  his  brand  against  the  sun-dried 
substance. 

There  was  no  powder  there.  It  had  spilled  when  it 
broke,  and  it  harmlessly  smoked  as  it  burned. 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  149 

Why  a  groan  did  not  escape  him,  Sidney  could  never 
have  told.  He  broke  off  the  tough,  resisting  substance 
six  inches  further  along  and  again  applied  his  spark. 

It  seemed  as  if  in  all  its  length  there  could  be  no 
powder  remaining.  He  was  savagely  grasping  the  fuse 
once  more,  to  break  it  at  a  fresher  place,  when  a  fiery- 
red  line,  some  four  feet  away,  seemed  creeping  like  a 
snake  out  beyond  him. 

The  spark  that  was  racing  along  to  the  bomb  had 
been  started  while  still  he  was  sweating  there  with 
baffled  and  excited  impatience. 

He  took  no  time  for  further  caution,  but  sprang  away 
to  the  shelter  of  the  tree  and  caught  at  a  lungful  of 
breath. 

There  was  not  a  sound  in  all  the  place.  This  much 
he  knew  in  that  second,  as  he  hugged  up  close  to  the 
trunk.  The  tiger  had  ceased  to  lap  at  the  meat,  and 
perhaps  was  poised  for  a  spring. 

It  seemed  to  Grcnville,  waiting  there,  that  nothing 
would  ever  happen.  A  thousand  doubts  went  darting 
through  his  brain.  The  fuse  had  failed !  It  was  broken 
again.  Or,  perhaps — 

A  low  growl  broke  the  stillness.  There  was  a  sound 
of  something  moving  towards  the  tree! 

Instantly  a  frightful  red-and-yellow  glare  leaped 
upward  from  the  earth.  A  deafening,  crashing  detona 
tion  rent  the  intimate  universe  and  shook  down  incred 
ible  stars.  The  air  was  filled  to  overcrowding  with  rush 
ing  billows  of  concussion  that  rocked  the  trees  as  in  a 
storm. 

Grenville  went  down,  dazed  and  helpless,  unable  to 
think,  so  jarred  to  chaos  were  his  senses.  But,  beyond 
being  stunned  for  a  moment,  he  was  totally  unhurt. 


150       AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING 

He  leaped  to  his  feet,  aware  of  some  mighty  disturb 
ance  in  the  curdled,  heavy  darkness  that  had  followed. 

The  tiger  it  was,  in  some  extravagant  activity,  mov 
ing  towards  Grenville  and  the  thicket.  He  was  almost 
upon  the  staggering  man  before  he  could  move  to  es 
cape.  Then  Grenville  stumbled  towards  the  ladder. 

The  jar  to  the  limb,  as  he  tugged  at  a  rung,  brought 
something  down  from  above.  This  was  the  creature 
that  had  hidden  in  the  tree.  It  had  partially  fallen, 
earlier  stunned  by  the  huge  concussion.  It  dropped 
upon  Grenville  leadenly — and  down  he  went  in  a  heap. 

The  three  sworn  enemies — tiger,  man,  and  jungle- 
cat — were  embroiled  on  the  earth  together.  Before  the 
man  could  sufficiently  recover  to  stagger  from  his 
knees  to  his  feet  and  grasp  his  club,  the  tiger  flung  out 
a  mighty  paw,  that  struck  him  a  blow  upon  the  chin. 

Without  a  sound  he  sank  limberly  down,  inert  and 
helplessly  unconscious. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

GRENVILLE'S  RADIANT  STAR 

EVEN  had  sleep  overcome  Elaine,  the  explosion  must 
have  startled  her  awake  like  a  wildly  fluttering  bird. 

All  her  life  she  had  known  the  sound  of  guns,  but 
never  before  had  her  ears  received  such  an  air-splitting 
shock  as  this. 

Her  alarm  could  know  no  bounds.  It  had  come  so 
suddenly  and  unexpectedly ;  it  had  been  such  a  cata 
clysmic  destruction  of  the  island's  haunting  calm !  She 
was  certain  some  hideous  blunder  had  occurred — that 
Grenville,  too,  had  perished  by  the  thing  he  had  fear 
lessly  dared  to  create. 

She  had  seen  for  an  instant  that  fan-like  glare,  as 
she  gazed  far  out  across  the  jungle.  And  now,  as  she 
stood  there,  rigid  with  fears  and  fixedly  staring  at  the 
formless  gloom — why  did  she  hear  no  sound? 

"  Oh,  he  might — he  might  call !  "  she  said,  and  she 
tried  to  halloo,  but  in  vain. 

She  waited  a  time  that  seemed  endless  for  some  little 
sign  from  the  jungle.  He  had  promised  before  that,  if 
all  went  well,  he  would  hasten  home  at  once.  Surely 
this  promise  held  good  to-night — especially  after  that 
explosion ! 

Perhaps  it  was  not  yet  time ;  perhaps  it  was  farther 
away  than  she  had  thought.  The  glare  had  seemed 
near,  but  he  had  no  torch,  and  must  walk  but  slowly 

151 


152  AS  IT  WAS 

through  the  thicket.  How  dark  it  must  be  along  the 
trails,  in  that  tangle  growth,  with  nothing  for  a  light! 
How  could  he  possibly  hasten? 

She  was  standing  out  on  the  brink  of  the  wall,  staring 
down  at  the  gloom  of  the  clearing,  convinced  that  her 
ears,  if  not  her  eyes,  would  detect  the  first  sign  of  his 
coming.  Just  the  merest  red  gleam  from  the  firebrand 
was  all  she  would  ask  of  the  darkness — just  that  dull 
little  star  in  the  firmament  of  black! 

But  the  ebon  remained  unbroken.  That  he  might  be 
lost  occurred  to  her  mind,  but  again  she  thought  it 
was  yet  too  soon  for  his  return.  She  stumbled  swiftly 
to  the  fire  again,  to  stir  it  to  brighter  refulgence.  It 
would  seem  to  him  a  beacon  against  the  sky  to  guide 
his  footsteps  home! 

She  thought  of  a  blazing  brand  she  could  carry  to 
the  brink  of  the  wall.  With  the  largest  limb  afforded 
by  the  fire  she  returned,  in  haste  and  eagerness,  to  wave 
him  a  signal  of  welcome.  And  still  nothing  came  from 
the  clearing. 

"  Sidney !  "  she  cried  through  the  stillness,  at  last. 
"Sidney!  Are  you  there?" 

The  night  surrendered  no  response,  save  some  animal 
cry  far  off  where  the  barque  was  rotting. 

"  If  he's  dead !  "  she  moaned.     "  If  he's  dead !  " 

But  he  might  be  wounded  and  helpless,  she  thought, 
with  no  one  to  come  to  his  side.  He  might  not  be 
hurt  unto  death  itself — if  aid  could  reach  him  now ! 

If  he  died — if  he  left  her  thus  alone A  thou 
sand  times  she  preferred  to  die  beside  him ! 

"  Sidney !  "  she  cried,  as  before. 

With  a  strange  dry  note,  choked  back  between  her 
lips,  she  fled  once  more  to  the  fire. 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  153 

Meantime  the  man  by  the  tiger's  kill  continued  to  lie 
without  motion  on  the  earth.  Not  even  the  glow  of  his 
cheering  brand  remained  like  a  sign  of  life  in  that 
silent  theater. 

The  jungle  cat,  smitten  and  addled  in  its  brain,  had 
dragged  itself  painfully  away  to  the  cover  of  the 
thicket,  its  instinct  feebly  alive.  There  was  not  a  sound 
in  all  the  place,  where  crash  and  roar  had  been  so  tre 
mendously  expended  for  one  prodigious  second. 

A  vague,  weird  dream  came  finally  creeping  intangi 
bly  through  Grenville's  brain,  resuming  an  intermittent 
function.  When  at  length  it  began  a  little  to  clear, 
he  dreamed  he  was  trying  his  utmost  to  rise,  but  some 
thing  held  him  down. 

Consciousness  poured  a  trickle  through  his  being, 
and  he  felt  he  was  partially  awake.  Then  a  flood,  a 
cataract  of  surging  life,  rushing  back  to  its  centers, 
brought  confusion  and  tumult  to  his  thoughts.  He 
was  still  only  partially  aroused. 

His  eyes  at  length  were  opened.  The  darkness  which 
their  gaze  encountered  seemed  more  complete  than  that 
of  his  region  of  dreams.  He  attempted  to  rise,  but  his 
muscles  and  nerves  refused  their  customary  obedience 
to  his  will.  He  tried  to  remember  what  had  happened, 
but  the  glancing  blow  sustained  on  his  chin  had  blotted 
him  out,  temporarily,  like  a  stroke  of  death  itself.  And, 
had  the  stroke  been  more  direct,  his  jaw  or  his  neck 
must  have  broken. 

When  he  raised  his  head  a  bit  from  the  ground  and 
propped  himself  up  on  his  elbow,  the  sense  of  dullness 
and  leadlike  weight  in  both  his  feet  and  legs  continued 
unabated.  He  was  battling  to  retain  his  consciousness. 

He  began  to  remember,  slowly.     The  process  was 


154  AS  IT  WAS 

only  well  started,  however,  when  it  was  singularly  in 
terrupted.  He  was  staring  blankly  through  the  jungle, 
which  he  partially  recollected.  It  was  funny,  he 
thought,  how  a  star  should  fall  and  wander  through 
all  those  aisles  of  trees. 

It  was  a  star,  he  was  fully  convinced,  coming  haltingly 
through  the  gloom.  Its  course  was  erratic.  He  lost 
it  at  times,  but  still  it  persisted  in  approaching.  How 
beautiful  it  was — the  largest  star  he  had  ever  known — 
with  its  flames  divinely  ascending. 

He  sat  up  stiffly,  his  will  momentarily  gaining 
strength  to  resume  the  sway  of  his  body.  Some  mantle 
partially  fell  from  his  brain,  to  accompany  his  physical 
rousing.  Then  he  knew,  not  only  what  had  happened, 
but  also  what  was  happening. 

"  Elaine !  "  he  tried  to  call  aloud,  vainly  striving  to 
rise  or  regain  the  use  of  his  limbs,  then  once  more  he 
sank  in  oblivion. 

A  strange,  wild  note  broke  from  her  lips  as  Elaine 
came  plunging  along  the  trail  with  a  torch  redly  blaz 
ing  in  her  hand,  held  well  above  her  face. 

She  saw,  before  she  could  reach  his  side,  that  the 
tiger  lay  lifeless  upon  him.  She  feared  the  man  was 
dead,  but,  with  wits  exceptionally  clear  and  ordered, 
she  thrust  her  torch-end  firmly  in  the  earth,  laid  hold 
of  the  huge,  limber  beast  she  so  fearfully  dreaded,  and 
tugged  and  dragged  it  feverishly  off  with  all  her  fine 
young  strength. 

The  face  of  the  inert  man  beside  the  tree  was  redly 
smeared  with  blood.  He  lay  horribly  loose  and  still 
upon  the  grass.  She  knelt  at  his  side  and  placed  her 
hands  upon  him,  feeling  above  his  heart. 

"  Sidney !  "  she  said  to  him.     "  Sidney !     You  can- 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  155 

not — you  shall  not  die !  I  never  meant  the  things  I  said 
— or  thought — or  anything!  Oh?  please,  please  don't 
— don't  look  like  that!  You've  got  to  come  back — 
you've  got  to  !  " 

She  tore  at  the  band  about  his  neck  and  lifted  his 
head  on  her  knee.  She  wiped  the  red  from  his  pallid 
face  with  the  hem  of  her  briar-torn  skirt. 

"  I'll  find  the  spring !  "  she  told  him  eagerly,  start 
ing  as  if  to  rise,  but  the  still  form  moved,  and,  dully  at 
first,  the  two  heavy  eyes  were  opened. 

"  Oh !  "  she  said.  "  Oh,  you're  hurt.  Don't  try  to 
do  anything  but  rest.  .  .  .  You  didn't  come — you 
didn't  come  home !  " 

Despite  her  entreaty,  Grenville  weakly  raised  his 
head  and  propped  himself,  half  sitting.  The  weight 
being  gone  from  his  outstretched  legs,  his  normal  cir 
culation  was  returning.  He  regained  his  strength  with 
characteristic  swiftness. 

"Hurt?"  he  said.  "  No— I  don't  believe—  I 
must  have  got  a  knockout  blow.  The  tiger?  Did  I  get 
the  tiger?" 

He  sat  up  uncertainly  and,  glancing  about,  saw  the 
huge  striped  form  where  Elaine  had  dragged  it  from 
his  body.  She  still  remained  on  her  knees,  fixedly  gaz 
ing  on  his  face.  Her  strength  was  ebbing  rapidly,  as 
Grenville's  now  returned. 

"  You  didn't  come  home,"  she  repeated,  by  way  of 
explaining  her  presence  at  his  side.  "  I  couldn't  live 
here  alone." 

Grenville  arose  and  assisted  her  weakly  to  her  feet. 
She  stumbled  to  and  leaned  against  the  tree. 

"  By  George !  "  he  said,  "  I'll  bet  a  hat  you  could !  " 

He  knew  what  courage  had  come  to  her  aid  before 


156  AS  IT  WAS 

she  could  make  her  excursion.  "  I  went  down  like  a 
dub,"  he  added,  in  his  customary  manner.  "No  good 
excuse,  but  I  do  apologize.  Better  get  out  of  this,  I'm 
thinking." 

He  took  up  the  torch  she  had  planted  in  the  earth, 
to  examine  the  tiger,  dead  and  mangled  in  the  grass. 
One  of  the  creature's  great  front  paws  had  been  rudely 
torn  from  his  body.  He  could  only  have  escaped  in 
stantaneous  death  by  having  moved  from  the  bomb  at 
the  moment  of  its  explosion. 

"  Your  robe  looks  mussed,"  Grenville  continued,  with 
a  gesture  towards  the  animal's  motionless  body.  "  But 
I  think  it  can  be  washed." 

Elaine  slightly  shivered  at  sight  of  the  frame  now 
done  with  life. 

"  You've  killed  him,"  she  said.     "  I'm  glad !  " 

He  took  her  firmly  by  the  arm  and  led  her  away 
through  the  thicket. 

When  they  reached  the  camp,  Elaine  was  not  yet 
fully  convinced  that  Grenville  was  uninjured.  She 
brought  him  a  rag  she  had  torn  from  some  of  her 
clothing  and  begged  him  to  wash  his  reddened  jaw. 
Even  the  restoration  of  his  former  stubbled  complexion 
could  not  suffice  to  bring  her  that  sense  of  certainty 
and  calm  essential  before  she  could  sleep. 

She  remained  beside  him  at  their  fire  till  long  past 
the  midnight  hour.  Indeed,  she  had  made  no  move  to 
retire  when  at  length  the  weird,  unwelcome  disturbance 
made  by  the  tide  had  begun  its  uncanny  chorus.  Per 
haps  she  had  waited  for  the  conclusion  of  this  added 
feature  of  the  night's  long  ritual  of  nerve-attacking 
events,  for  she  seemed  to  be  considerably  cheered  when 
its  final  wail  had  died  upon  the  air. 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  157 

"  It  seems  to  me  that  doesn't  continue  quite  as  long 
as  it  did  at  first,"  she  said  to  Grenville,  as  she  rose 
at  last  to  go  alone  to  her  cavern.  .  .  .  "  I  think  you 
ought  to  rest.  I  wish  you  would." 

"  I  will,"  said  Sidney.     "  Good-night." 

But,  for  some  time  after  she  had  gone,  he  sat  there 
wondering  if  those  abominable  but  protective  cries,  that 
haunted  the  island's  solitude,  were  actually  on  the  wane. 

"  God  help  us  if  they  are !  "  he  said,  to  himself,  but 
he  went  to  bed  and  slept. 


CHAPTER  XX 

A    GIRDLE    OF    GOLD 

ELAINE  had  not  yet  appeared  on  the  scene  when 
Grenville  went  down  to  the  jungle.  The  morning  hour 
was  still  decidedly  early,  but  plans  and  impatience  to 
be  up  and  at  work  had  prodded  the  man  from  his  rest. 
The  lassitude  that  should  have  followed  his  night  of 
excitement  had  not  yet  laid  its  weight  upon  him. 

Apparently  nothing  had  come  to  the  jungle  scene 
where  the  tiger  had  met  his  end.  The  great  form  lay 
there,  torn  and  rigid,  but  no  sign  of  the  cat  could  be 
discovered. 

Grenville  passed  his  trophy,  presently,  to  examine 
the  space  beyond.  The  spot  where  the  bomb  had  ex 
ploded  was  a  gaping  hole  in  the  earth.  This  was  not 
the  place  where  Grenville  had  placed  the  deadly  tube, 
which  he  knew  must  therefore  have  been  moved — doubt 
less  when  the  fuse  was  pulled  and  broken  by  the  creature 
taking  refuge  in  the  tree. 

All  about  the  spot  where  the  kill  had  been  the  shrub 
bery  was  shredded.  The  boar's  remains  had  been  blown 
away  when  the  gap  was  made  in  the  sod.  The  trail, 
Grenville  saw,  must  be  repaired  or  a  new  one  must  be 
made  about  the  place. 

He  returned  to  the  tiger,  and  was  suddenly  elated 
to  behold  the  metal  collar,  half-hidden  by  the  fur  about 
his  neck.  He  had  quite  forgotten  this  bauble,  thus 

158 


AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING       159 

singularly  employed,  and,  kneeling  down  to  inspect  it 
closely,  not  only  found  it  was  massive  gold  and  set  with 
costly  jewels,  but  also  discovered  he  must  break  or 
force  a  heavy  link  to  take  it  from  the  creature. 

It  was  not  until  he  had  brought  two  sharp-edged 
rocks  to  his  needs  that  the  collar  was  finally  freed.  Its 
weight  and  worth  then  amazed  him.  The  band  was  fully 
two  inches  in  width,  with  the  edges  curved  up  and  turned 
under,  in  a  simple  and  hammer-marked  finish.  It  was 
all  hand-wrought,  each  blow  that  the  smith  had  struck 
with  his  tool  being  faintly  recorded  in  the  metal.  The 
jewels — three  sapphires,  three  rubies,  and  one  diamond 
— were  simply  and  solidly  set  with  bands  that  barely 
clasped  their  bases.  The  rubies  only  were  cabochon  cut, 
the  other  stones  gleaming  with  facets. 

There  was  not  a  mark  upon  the  collar's  outer  surface 
to  show  what  was  meant  by  its  presence  here  in  such 
extraordinary  keeping.  But  Grenville  presently  be 
thought  him  to  glance  at  the  inner  circumference.  He 
was  not  in  the  least  astonished,  but  he  was  a  bit  con 
cerned,  to  discover  a  number  of  those  mystic  symbols, 
deeply  graved  in  the  gold,  that  had  once  been  tattooed 
on  the  man  sitting  dead  in  the  barque. 

Here  were  the  three  hills,  bounded  by  the  water,  and 
one  with  the  tree  on  its  summit,  while  on  either  side  the 
cartouch  appeared,  bounded  by  crude  drawings  of  the 
tiger.  That  the  brute  had  been  liberated  here  upon 
the  island  as  a  sort  of  sacred  guardian  of  the  cave 
that  was  mentioned  by  the  writing  found  secreted  with 
the  map,  Grenville  could  not,  or  did  not,  doubt.  There 
was  nothing  more  to  be  found  engraved  on  the  gold. 

He  finally  slipped  the  heavy  band  about  his  own 
smooth,  sun-tanned  neck  and  went  at  the  task  of  secur- 


160  AS  IT  WAS 

ing  Elaine's  promised  robe.  This  toil  was  far  more 
difficult  than  even  his  lack  of  proper  appliances  had  led 
him  to  anticipate.  Although  he  had  sharpened  his  stub 
of  a  knife-blade  to  a  very  respectable  cutting-edge,  it 
was  far  too  small  for  the  business. 

His  doggedness  and  application  were  the  assets  on 
Avhich  he  had  most  to  count,  and  without  them  here  he 
must  have  failed.  As  it  was,  he  remained  so  long  away 
that  Elaine,  who  was  up,  was  alarmed.  And,  when  at 
last  he  appeared  below  with  the  heavy,  striped  skin 
across  his  shoulder,  she  started  abruptly,  till  she  saw 
he  was  not  another  tiger. 

"  I  thought  you  might  like  to  see  the  size  of  his 
hide,"  he  said,  as  he  brought  it  to  the  terrace,  "  before 
I  take  it  clown  by  the  shore  for  tanning.  I  shall  soak 
it  a  while  in  a  mixture  of  brine  and  saltpeter.  Both 
are  highly  preservative — and  the  best  the  island 
affords." 

"  He  was  simply  tremendous ! "  Elaine  replied,  when 
the  skin  had  been  spread  on  the  rocks.  "  What  have 
you  got  about  your  neck?  " 

"  Oh,  this  ?  "  said  Grenville,  removing  the  golden  col 
lar.  "  This  is  a  symbol  of  royalty  that  his  Bengal 
highness  wore — your  property  now,  as  a  trophy  of  the 
hunt." 

She  took  it  a  little  uncertainly  as  he  held  it  forth 
in  his  hand. 

"Why— it's  gold!"   she  said.      "These  jewels 

The  tiger  was  wearing  this  ?  " 

"  About  his  kingly  neck." 

"  But  how — unless  someone  put  it  on  ?  " 

"  Undoubtedly  someone  did.  He  must  have  been  a 
captive  once,  and  probably  escaped." 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  161 

It  could  serve  no  good  end  to  acquaint  her  with 
his  actual  suspicions,  which  might  be  ill-founded,  after 
all. 

"  It's  beautiful,"  she  continued,  gazing  in  admiration 
on  the  collar's  simple  massiveness.  "  But  it's  not  for 
me,  I'm  sure."  She  held  it  out  for  him  to  take.  But 
he  bent  above  the  skin. 

"  Then  pitch  it  away,"  he  instructed,  laconically. 
"  Toss  it  into  the  sea." 

She  colored,  looking  at  him  strangely.  She  could 
not  throw  away  his  property — anything  of  such  great 
intrinsic  value.  She  was  baffled  again,  as  he  managed 
so  frequently.  Her  hand  and  the  golden  circlet  fell  at 
her  side.  She  could  think  of  no  appropriate  speech 
of  final  rejection.  A  whimsical  notion  only  arose  to 
her  groping  mind. 

"  Fancy  me  wearing  this  priceless  band  of  splendor," 
she  said,  "  and  eating  with  a  stick !  " 

"  It  will  just  about  fit  around  your  waist,"  he  con 
jectured,  taking  it  from  her  as  he  rose.  With  easy 
strength  he  bent  it  in  his  hands,  to  make  it  more  snugly 
conform  to  her  slender  and  graceful  little  body. 

Why  should  he  not  bend  it  thus,  she  thought,  who  had 
wrenched  it  from  a  tiger?  She  felt  how  weak  and  in 
adequate  was  her  own  diminishing  .struggle.  But  to 
wear  this  band — a  symbol,  almost,  of  Grenville's  owner 
ship —  A  hot  recurrence  of  her  former  pride  came 
surging  to  her  bosom. 

"  It's  too  heavy  to  wear,"  she  told  him,  a  trifle 
coldly.  She  once  more  accepted  the  girdle,  however, 
despite  herself,  from  his  hand.  "  The  tiger  that  wore 
it,"  she  concluded,  "  met  with  a  lot  of  trouble." 

"  You've  met  with  some  yourself,"  he  answered,  can- 


162  AS  IT  WAS 

didly,  and  he  shouldered  the  skin  and  started  off  for 
the  estuary's  mouth. 

Elaine  burned  suddenly  scarlet,  interpreting  his 
speech  in  some  manner  of  her  own.  Helplessly  she  car 
ried  the  girdle  to  her  cave,  and  left  it  there  in  a  hollow 
of  the  rock. 

The  incident  concerned  with  the  tiger  was  practically 
closed.  A  new,  bright  era  of  security  and  liberty  there 
upon  commenced,  particularly  for  Elaine.  She  could 
not  take  immediate  advantage  of  the  comfort  thus 
vouchsafed  in  moving  about  the  island,  but  at  least  her 
worry  was  lessened  when  Grenville  was  obliged  to  ven 
ture  in  the  jungle. 

His  return  to  the  work  so  frequently  interrupted  was 
delayed  but  the  briefest  time.  So  eager  did  he  con 
stantly  feel  to  accomplish  his  boat's  completion  that 
he  had  grudged  every  hour  the  tiger  had  cost  him  from 
his  labors. 

With  no  thought  of  sparing  his  tireless  strength,  he 
promptly  resumed  the  task  of  digging  and  fetching  the 
clay.  Elaine  might  have  joined  him  in  the  clearing 
now  had  not  some  task  she  was  eager  to  complete  en 
grossed  her  attentions  at  the  shelter. 

That  day  the  remaining  surface  of  his  prostrate  log 
was  plastered  by  Grenville's  eager  hands.  He  likewise 
mixed  sufficient  clay  to  finish  his  furnace  in  the  morn 
ing.  The  fire  that  was  helping  to  hollow  his  log  was 
once  again  ignited.  Much  of  the  old  charred  substance, 
left  from  previous  operations,  Grenville  knocked  away 
with  an  improvised  tool  of  brass,  in  order  to  daub 
more  clay  inside  the  shell  before  the  flames  could  con 
tinue  removing  the  wood  as  he  required. 

On  the  following  day,  while  the  walls  in  his  smelter 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  163 

were  drying,  Sidney  wove  a  two-piece  door  of  wattle — 
framework  of  creepers,  plastered  with  clay — to  fit 
across  the  orifice  at  the  bottom  of  his  tree.  With  this 
he  felt  he  could  regulate  the  draught  and  protect  him 
self  while  removing  his  crucibles  of  metal.  The  top  door 
only  would  be  tossed  aside  to  accomplish  this  latter 
purpose. 

He  likewise  plastered  the  edges  and  sides  of  the  hole 
that  pierced  his  smelter.  He  knew  the  heat,  when  he 
came  to  melt  the  brass,  would  spread  at  once  to  all 
unprotected  wood.  After  that  he  had  still  to  contrive 
a  clay-covered  implement  for  lifting  out  his  crucibles, 
and  a  tripod  affair  to  be  placed  inside  the  furnace  to 
support  these  crucibles  upon. 

What  with  more  work  done  upon  the  boat-to-be,  and 
a  goodly  portion  of  the  afternoon  expended  in  killing 
and  preparing  another  of  the  pheasants  for  their  din 
ner,  Grenville's  hours  sped  swiftly  away. 

A  weary  but  elated  craftsman  he  was  that  day-end 
when  at  length  he  returned  for  the  final  time  to  the 
terrace.  He  had  been  to  the  shore,  where  the  tiger-hide 
was  curing  in  a  strong  solution  of  brine  and  saltpeter, 
mixed  in  a  hollow  in  the  sand,  and,  having  there  turned 
it  over,  had  washed  himself  to  a  fresh  and  ruddy  color. 

Notwithstanding  the  unbecoming  growth  of  beard 
upon  his  face,  he  appeared  to  Elaine  the  most  com 
manding  figure  she  had  ever  taken  time  to  inspect.  He 
looked  every  inch  a  master  of  the  island,  if  not  also 
of  his  fate  and  her  own.  But  she  was  more  than  usually 
excited  that  evening,  as  she  disappeared  within  her 
shelter. 

She  presently  emerged  with  such  an  air  of  uncer 
tainty  and  diffidence  about  her  as  had  never  before  ap- 


164-  AS  IT  WAS 

peared  since  their  coming  to  the  island.  But  she  did 
not  hesitate  in  the  task  she  had  set  herself  to  perform. 

"  I  have  finished  my  first  bit  of  knitting,"  she  said, 
"  and  there  it  is." 

To  Grenville's  thorough  amazement,  the  clean,  new 
article  held  in  her  hand,  and  shyly  offered  for  his  ac 
ceptance,  was  a  cap  she  had  made  for  his  head.  It  was 
not  unlike  a  golf-cap  in  shape,  but  the  visor  was  con 
siderably  wider,  to  protect  his  eyes  from  the  sun. 

She  had  woven  this  of  finely  divided  creeper-core  on 
a  frame  neatly  made  of  the  same.  Its  meshes  had  then 
been  filled  by  fibers,  snugly  and  neatly  plaited  back  and 
forth  to  make  it  opaque  to  the  light.  The  frame  was 
firmly  knitted  to  the  cap. 

"  Pretty  good,"  said  Grenville,  busied  with  several 
arrows.  "  Thanks ;"  and,  placing  it  carelessly  on  his 
head,  continued  with  his  employment. 

Elaine,  who  had  conjured  all  her  resolution  to  make 
of  the  presentation  the  merest  commonplace  affair,  was 
wholly  confounded  in  her  thoughts  by  the  man's 
unheard-of  conduct,  after  all  she  had  recently  under 
gone  before  she  could  make  him  such  a  gift. 

She  had  feared  some  demonstration  of  the  passion 
shown  on  the  ship — or  at  least  some  disturbing  out 
burst  she  had  armed  herself  to  quench.  But  this — such 
scant  courtesy  or  gratitude  as  this — left  her  absolutely 
impotent  and  baffled. 

She  was  piqued,  disappointed,  chagrined.  It  was  hor 
rid  of  anyone,  she  was  sure,  to  be  so  outrageously  un 
feeling.  There  was  nothing,  however,  she  could  do,  and 
nothing  she  could  say.  Standing  there,  mortified,  al 
most  angry,  and  conscious  she  was  burning  guiltily  red 
with  various  emotions  that  he  did  not  even  notice,  was 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  165 

such  a  footless  and  irritating  proceeding,  with  the  situa 
tion  robbed  of  its  point. 

She  turned  away,  fairly  ready  to  cry  with  vexation, 
and  pretended  to  make  herself  busy  with  things  already 
well  prepared  for  their  evening  meal.  But  the  new 
rebellion  of  her  nature,  partially  begotten  by  the  uncon 
trolled  and  uncontrollable  impulses  loosed  in  the  jungle 
the  previous  night,  when  Grenville  lay  helplessly 
stunned,  with  his  head  loosely  pillowed  on  her  knee, 
was  not  to  be  longer  contained.  She  presently  fled 
from  before  the  cavern,  across,  through  the  shadows 
of  the  terrace,  to  the  hidden  shelf  where  Grenville  had 
angled  for  fish. 

There  she  suddenly  sank  to  her  knees  on  the  rocks 
and  covered  her  face  with  her  hands. 

"  I  hate  him !  "  she  said,  in  a  hot  and  passionate  ut 
terance,  suggestive  of  a  sob.  "  I  hate  him !  I  hate  him ! 
I  hate  every  man  that  ever  lived — and  you,  Gerald  Fen- 
ton,  as  much  as  all  the  others ! " 

She  snatched  off  the  ring  from  her  finger.  It  was 
Fenton's  ring,  with  a  single  stone  that  gleamed  in  the 
failing  light.  It  seemed  to  her  to  represent  the  man 
far  absent  from  her  side. 

"  It  was  you  who  brought  it  all  about !  "  she  con 
tinued,  in  her  fiercely  waging  conflict,  and,  overwrought, 
she  cast  it  down  on  the  ledge  as  if  it  burned  her  palm. 

It  bounded  lightly  where  it  struck  and,  clearing  the 
shelf,  fell  swiftly  downward  to  the  water.  A  gasp  and 
a  moan  escaped  her  lips  together.  Vividly,  of  a  sud 
den,  she  remembered  Grenville's  prediction  that  she 
would  throw  it  away  in  the  sea. 

"  Oh,  Gerald,  I  didn't  mean  to !  "  she  moaned.  "  I 
didn't !  You've  got  to  believe  me !  "  She  sank  farther 


166       AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING 

forward  on  the  ledge,  her  face  closely  hidden  in  the 
curve  of  her  loose  brown  arm.  She  wept  and  wept 
there,  bitterly,  in  a  mood  of  mixed  emotions. 

"  I  hate  him !  I  hate  him !  "  she  said,  as  before. 
"  It's  not  my  fault  in  the  least !  " 

And  after  a  time,  as  Grenville  did  not  come,  she  re 
turned  to  the  camp  alone. 


CHAPTER  XXI 

MOLTEN  METAL,  AND  HOPES 

THE  following  day  was  calmer  for  Elaine,  and  vastly 
interesting,  since  Grenville's  smelting  operations  were 
begun.  She  told  herself  that  interest  only  laid  its  hold 
upon  her  nature,  and,  being  a  woman,  she  knew. 

The  clay  that  lined  his  hollow  tree  was  sufficiently 
dry  at  last  for  Grenville's  fire.  The  other  accessories, 
all  more  thinly  coated,  were  likewise  ready  for  his  use. 
He  began  in  the  morning  to  heat  his  natural  chimney 
against  the  actual  needs  of  afternoon.  The  small  fire 
kindled  upon  its  hearth  established  at  once  the  effi 
ciency  of  the  draught. 

Not  without  a  certain  boyish  eagerness  in  the  cul 
mination  of  his  labors,  Sidney  began  the  assemblage  of 
his  various  paraphernalia  an  hour  at  least  before  noon. 
His  molds  and  crucibles  he  carefully  brought  from  the 
summit  of  the  terrace,  disposing  them  as  conveniently 
as  his  crude  conditions  permitted.  All  his  rusted  scraps 
and  useless  bits  of  brass  and  bronze  were  divided  into 
parcels,  while  salt,  some  powdered  charcoal,  and  an 
over-abundant  supply  of  saltpeter  were  provided  to  be 
used  as  flux,  according  as  the  smelting  might  demand. 
He  could  not  be  certain  of  which  he  should  use  till 
experiment  should  determine  which,  if  any,  rendered 
good  results. 

The  principal  difficulty,  he  soon  discovered,  would  be 
adding  the  fuel  to  his  flames.  His  smelter-door  was 

167 


168  AS  IT  WAS 

not  well  arranged  for  this  essential  business.  He  ex 
pected,  however,  to  heap  a  considerable  quantity  of 
wood  inside  before  the  chimney  should  become  too  hot. 
Later  he  thought  a  lot  of  short  material  could  be 
readily  introduced,  and  against  this  need  he  gathered 
an  impressive  heap  of  branches,  which  he  broke  to  a 
workable  length. 

Elaine  was  with  him  when  at  last  the  work  began. 
She  was  far  more  excited  than  Grenville  seemed,  since  it 
appeared  to  her  no  less  than  a  miracle  that  any  man, 
in  a  place  like  this,  should  dare  assume  such  a  mastery 
over  Jovian  metals  and  flame.  She  had  never  before 
seen  anything  of  smelting.  This  intimate  acquaint 
ance  with  its  mysteries  seemed  to  her  a  privilege, 
greatly  enhanced  by  the  fact  that  the  lord  of  it  all 
pretended  she  was  actually  helpful. 

She  assisted  when  he  bound  the  sections  of  his  clay- 
made  molds  together.  She  handed  him  fuel  when  the 
furnace-door  was  opened  and  gushes  of  heat  came 
voluminously  forth. 

The  fire,  which  for  a  time  had  loudly  roared,  was 
now  more  intense  and  quiet.  The  volumes  of  smoke, 
which  the  "  chimney  "  had  belched,  had  likewise  finally 
ceased.  Only  a  quiver  of  superheated  air  and  a  green 
ish  bit  of  gas  and  fume  now  ascended  to  the  sky. 

From  time  to  time,  Grenville  opened  the  top  of  the 
door  to  peer  within.  He  wrinkled  his  features,  in  the 
waves  of  heat,  and  held  his  hand  before  his  face.  At 
length  he  adjusted  his  "  tongs  "  about  a  crucible  and 
drew  it  entirely  forth. 

It  was  white  with  heat,  its  surface  sparkling  with  a 
hundred  tiny  stars  that  died  on  its  glowing  surface. 

"  Just  toss  in  some  of  that  stuff  there  on  the  leaf," 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  169 

he  quietly  instructed  Elaine.  "  It  will  soon  be  ready 
to  pour." 

The  "  stuff "  was  flux,  and  Elaine  obeyed  direc 
tions  like  the  stanch  assistant  that  she  was.  She  won 
dered  what  was  coming  next. 

It  came  very  soon.  She  was  certain  no  ruddier  fig 
ure  of  Vulcan,  employing  mighty  flame,  had  ever  been 
presented  than  now  when  Grenville  made  ready  for  the 
climax  of  his  work. 

He  removed  the  door  as  he  had  not  previously  done, 
and  set  it  aside  from  his  path.  He  thrust  in  his  tongs, 
while  flame  and  heat  came  pouring  out  to  paint  him 
a  deep  and  glowing  color.  Then,  seemingly  hotter  than 
ever  before,  and  smoking  goldenly  above  its  blinding  in 
candescence,  the  first  of  the  crucibles,  itself  fairly 
dripping,  where  some  of  the  flux  had  trickled  down  its 
surface,  was  supported  over  to  the  molds,  to  be  quickly 
and  vigorously  skimmed  of  its  oxidized  matter. 

But  the  molten  brass,  indescribably  beautiful,  with 
ruby  and  gold  and  silver  gleams  imbedded  and  break 
ing  in  its  substance,  was  the  wonder  of  it  all.  Elaine 
stood  entranced,  to  see  it  flow  and  fill  the  hollows  of 
the  molds. 

The  second  was  hastily  drawn  from  the  flame,  and 
then  the  third  and  last.  But  not  till  all  lay  finally 
empty  and  smoking  on  the  earth,  their  surfaces  rap 
idly  dulling,  did  Grenville  pause  to  look  at  Elaine  and 
smile. 

"  Can't  even  tell  what  we've  done,"  he  said,  "  till  the 
molds  are  cooled  and  opened." 

"  Must  you  wait  very  long  till  you  know?  " 

"  I  couldn't  wait  long,"  Grenville  answered.  "  I'm 
too  much  of  a  curious  kid." 


170  AS  IT  WAS 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  brass  poured  in  a  mold  begins 
to  harden  at  once.  In  less  than  fifteen  minutes,  Gren- 
ville  was  gingerly  untwisting  the  hot  copper  wire  that 
bound  each  mold  together.  Soon  after  that  the  first  of 
his  tools,  a  heavy  and  serviceable  chisel,  lay  uncovered 
to  the  air. 

It  was  still  glowing  hot,  although  no  longer  red.  It 
was  darker,  less  brassy  in  appearance  than  Elaine  had 
expected  to  see,  but  it  seemed  to  her  a  wonderful  thing 
to  be  made  of  those  useless  bits  of  metal. 

The  tool  next  in  importance  was  much  like  a  butcher's 
cleaver — an  implement  intended  for  cutting  or  hacking 
wood  or  branches,  either  to  clear  a  path  in  the  jungle 
or  to  rough  out  anything  of  timber.  The  edge  of  this 
casting  was  imperfect,  where  the  metal  had  failed  to 
flow.  Both  it  and  the  chisel  had  a  thin  fringe  of  brass 
along  those  sections  where  the  halves  of  the  mold  had 
come  together,  but  this  would  be  readily  broken  away 
and  was  quite  to  be  expected. 

Smaller  chisels,  a  blade  that  Sidney  expected  to  notch 
along  its  edge  to  make  a  species  of  saw,  and  a  number 
of  smaller  implements  were  contained  in  the  other  sets 
of  molds.  None  of  these  was  perfect,  and  one  or  two 
merely  served  to  instruct  the  master-molder  in  the  way 
to  go  to  work  another  time.  But  the  net  results  were 
highly  satisfactory,  and  seemed  to  Elaine  a  veritable 
triumph. 

The  poorness  of  their  quality  as  tools  with  which 
to  accomplish  swift  results  developed  the  following  day. 
Grenville  had  melted  a  part  of  his  lead  and  cast  the 
head  of  a  hammer.  With  this  and  the  largest  of  his 
chisels  he  attacked  the  log  chosen  for  a  boat. 

So  long  as  his  gouging  was  confined  to  the  portions 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  171 

charred  by  the  fire,  the  tool  held  well  to  the  labor.  Its 
edge  soon  went  to  pieces,  however,  when  the  solider  sub 
stance  was  encountered.  It  was  sharpened  repeatedly. 
He  early  foresaw  that,  work  as  he  might,  the  business 
of  conjuring  forth  a  boat  from  material  so  raw  was 
certain  to  be  slow,  if  not  exhausting. 

Indeed,  at  this  time  a  tedious  period  began.  There 
were  days  and  days  of  dull,  stupid  repetition  ahead 
like  the  ones  that  were  presently  past.  Fire  after  fire 
he  maintained  beneath  the  log?  which  must  always  be 
newly  plastered  with  the  clay.  Hour  after  hour  he 
chiseled  off  the  black  and  dusty  flakes  that  the  flames 
would  leave  behind,  since  it  hastened  the  work  to  pre 
sent  a  new  surface  to  the  heat.  It  seemed  as  if  the 
task  could  never  have  an  end. 

But,  if  this  was  a  season  of  dogged  application  to 
an  uncongenial  business,  it  was  likewise  the  one  long 
era  of  peace  vouchsafed  to  the  exiled  pair.  There  was 
nothing  to  rouse  a  sense  of  alarm  in  any  near  portion 
of  the  jungle.  And,  if  those  fast  succeeding  days 
brought  no  welcome  sign  of  a  steamer  approaching 
on  the  distant  blue  horizon,  neither  did  their  length 
ening  hours  develop  those  craft  upon  the  sea  for  which 
Grenville  was  constantly  and  apprehensively  watching. 
They  were  happy  days,  as  well  as  peaceful.  Concern 
ing  the  ring  she  had  lost  in  the  sea,  Elaine  could  not 
force  herself  to  worry.  Grenville  never,  by  any  chance, 
gave  her  occasion  for  alarm. 

There  were  many  full  afternoon  vacations  from  his 
work  when  the  fire  was  left  to  hollow  out  his  log  that 
Sidney  spent  at  her  side.  He  wove  her  a  hammock  of 
the  creeper  withes  and  built  a  shady  bower  by  the  shore. 
He  had  sawed  her  a  comb  from  the  tortoiseshell,  bent 


172  AS  IT  WAS 

hairpins  of  the  copper  wire,  and  made  her  a  comfortable 
couch.  Her  tiger-skin  robe  he  had  worked  with  his 
hands  to  a  soft  and  pliant  finish.  The  skin  of  a  cheeta 
he  had  killed  he  used  to  supplement  his  rapidly  vanish 
ing  shirt.  Sewing  was  strongly,  if  not  prettily,  accom 
plished  with  such  needles  and  thread  as  his  ready  in 
genuity  provided. 

They  were  busy  days  that  were  doomed,  however,  to 
pall.  Elaine  was  assisting  with  a  loom  to  weave  a  sail, 
while  between  times  Grenville  chipped  out  the  stone  for 
the  bath  he  had  promised  on  the  ledge.  He  became  a 
skillful  marksman  with  his  bow,  and  knew  every  animal 
trail  the  island  afforded.  In  many  of  these  his  traps  did 
deadly  service.  Their  larder  rarely  lacked  for  meat, 
made  tender  by  paw-paw  leaves.  Elaine  caught 
many  a  silver  fish  that  they  roasted  together  in  the 
sand. 

But  her  gaze  more  frequently  roved  afar,  for  the 
ship  that  did  not  come.  The  days  were  growing  sultrier, 
and  constantly  more  monotonous. 

The  new  moon  had  come  and  waxed  to  the  full  and 
was  once  more  waning  in  the  heavens.  They  were  mar 
velous  nights  the  old  orb  made  upon  the  island,  but 
always  weird  and  exciting  a  sense,  in  Elaine  at  least, 
of  loneliness  and  aloofness  from  the  world.  On  their 
cliff  above  the  murmurous  tides,  she  and  Grenville  fre 
quently  sat  for  hours  at  a  time  without  exchanging  a 
word. 

Such  times  were  fraught  with  strangely  exciting  mo 
ments  ;  and  subtle  tinglings  came  unbidden  to  her  nature, 
giving  her  pleasures  wildly  lawless  and  precious  be 
yond  expression.  Yet  she  feared  them  also  when  they 
came,  and  refused  to  give  them  meaning. 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  173 

But  to-night  a  new  wistfulness  burned  in  her  eyes 
as  she  turned  to  her  silent  companion. 

"  I  wonder,"  she  said,  "  if  we  couldn't  put  a  fresher 
flag  on  our  pole  to-morrow." 

O  -L 

"  Sure  shot,"  said  Sid,  "  the  freshest  flag  that  ever 
grew." 

She  was  silent  again  for  several  moments.  Then  she 
said: 

"  What  should  we  do  if  a  year  went  by — two  years, 
perhaps,  or  even  more — and  a  ship  should  never 
come?  " 

"Do?"  said  Grenville.     "Sail  away." 

"  I  know.  But  I  mean,  supposing  we  found  no  place 
to  go — and  had  to  come  back  every  time." 

"  H'rn !  "  said  Grenville,  rubbing  the  corner  of  his 
jaw,  "  you  probably  also  mean  to  suppose  we  were 
always  unmolested." 

"  Why,  yes,  of  course.  Who  could  come  to  molest 
us  here?  " 

"  Molesters,"  he  said,  "  if  anyone.  But  perhaps  they 
never  would." 

He  had  given  no  answer  to  her  question,  which  she 
hardly  cared  to  repeat.  It  was  one  of  the  times,  which 
frequently  came,  when  she  could  not  prevent  herself 
from  wondering  if  this  strong,  primal  man  she  had 
once  called  a  brute  could  have  utterly  forgotten  the 
passionate  declaration  made  on  the  steamship  "  Inca  " 
the  day  before  the  wreck. 

She  wondered  also,  had  he  meant  it  at  the  time?  Or 
had  one  of  his  many  inscrutable  moods  possessed  him, 
barely  for  the  moment?  She  had  never  dared  recently 
confess  to  herself  what  feelings  might  instantly  invade 
her  tingling  nature  should  she  learn  he  had  only  pre- 


174  AS  IT  WAS 

tended,  perhaps  on  some  wager  with  Gerald,  as  a  test 
of  her  faithfulness  and  love. 

It  was  womanlike,  merely,  on  her  part,  to  desire  to 
know  his  mind.  No  woman  may  long  resent  being  loved 
by  a  strong  and  masterful  man.  And  Elaine  was  de 
lightfully  typical  of  all  her  delightful  sex. 

"  Well,"  she  presently  said,  "  we've  been  here  now 
much  longer  than  we  ever  expected  that  day  when  we 
arrived." 

His  gaze,  which  had  been  averted,  now  swung  to  a 
meeting  with  her  own.  She  had  never  seemed  lovelier, 
braver,  more  sweetly  disposed  than  now.  The  moon 
light  deepened  her  luminous  eyes  till  the  man  fairly  held 
his  breath. 

"  Elaine,"  he  said,  finally,  glancing  once  more  to 
wards  the  silvered  sea,  "  what  is  your  notion  of  love?  " 

The  shock  of  the  word  threw  all  her  wits  into 
confusion. 

"My  notion?"  she  stammered,  helplessly,  feeling 
the  hot  flames  leap  like  floods  of  his  molten  metal  to 
her  neck,  her  face,  and  her  bosom.  "  I  don't  believe — 
I  have — any  notions." 

"Your  convictions,  then?"  he  amended.  "Or,  if 
you  like,  your  principles  ?  " 

"  My — my  principles  of — of  all  that — arc — just 
about  like — everyone  else's,  I  suppose,"  she  managed 
to  answer,  fragmentarily,  " — being  honest — and  true — 
and  faithful — unto  death." 

"  To  the  one  that  you  really  love?  " 

"  Why — certainly — of  course."  The  heat  in  her 
face  increased,  so  significant  had  she  felt  his  words  with 
that  low  even  tone  of  emphasis. 

He  stared  so  long  at  the  sea  after  that  she  began  to 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  175 

suspect  he  had  not  even  heard  her  reply.  After  a  time 
she  was  tempted  to  play,  just  a  trifle,  with  the  fire.  She 
added,  "Why  did  you  ask?" 

"  Wanted  to  know."  Once  more  he  fell  dumb,  and 
again  she  waited,  afraid  he  would,  and  more  afraid  he 
would  not,  continue  the  delicate  topic.  Once  again, 
also,  she  was  tempted. 

"  And  what,"  she  inquired,  "  is  your — notion?  " 

He  did  not  turn.     "  Of  love  or  crocodiles?  " 

"  Of — of  love — was  what  you  asked  me." 

"  I  believe  I  did,"  he  responded.  "  Oh,  about  the 
same  as  yours  !  " 

Elaine  had  received  but  scanty  satisfaction.  After 
another  long  silence  she  ventured  to  say: 

"  We  might  have  to  be  here  a  year — or  even 
longer." 

He  turned  to  her  directly.  "  Do  you  like  it  here, 
Elaine?" 

She  would  not  reply,  and  therefore  demanded,  "  Do 
you?" 

"  I'm  a  savage,"  he  admitted.  "  This  sort  of  thing 
appeals  to  something  in  my  blood." 

"  I  know,"  she  answered,  understandingly,  " — build 
ing  up  an  empire  with  your  naked  hands,  unaided — 
conquering  metals  and  elements — wresting  the  island's 
dominion  from  the  brutes.  Naturally  you  love  it !  " 

He  reddened.  "  I  can't  make  an  apple  dumpling  and 
make  it  right!  This  island's  dominion?  Great  Caesar's 
frying-pan — this  is  a  regular  picnic-ground,  with  every 
thing  on  earth  provided !  " 

She  smiled.  "  And  things  all  made  and  ready,  in 
cluding  tools  and  powder,  not  to  mention  a  tiger-skin 
rug.  .  .  .  You  refuse  to  admit  you  like  it  for  itself?  " 


176  AS  IT  WAS 

"  Like  it  or  not,"  he  answered,  "  we  must  get  away— 
and  home." 

"  Home,"  she  repeated,  oddly.  "  Home.  ...  I 
wonder  if  home  will  ever  seem —  It  certainly  would 
be  wonderful,  a  miracle,  I  think,  to  see  a  steamer  really 
coming — and  to  go  on  board  and  have  it  take  us  back 
to — everything — somewhere  home —  But  we'd  some 
times  think  of  this — a  little?  " 

"  Probably." 

To  save  his  life,  he  could  not  banish  thoughts  of 
Fenton. 

"  I'm  sure  we  would,"  murmured  Elaine.  She  gazed 
away,  to  the  jungle's  softened  shadows.  She  wanted 
to  cry  out  abruptly  that  she  loved  it  to-night,  with  a 
love  that  could  never  die.  She  wanted  the  comfort  of 
something,  she  hardly  dared  wonder  what.  After  an 
other  long  silence,  she  finally  said,  with  eyes  averted 
and  excitement  throbbing  in  her  veins : 

"  I  know  the  name  of  this  little  place — do  you?  " 

"  No,"  he  said,  wondering  what  she  might  have  dis 
covered.  "  What  do  you  think  it  is  called?  " 

It  seemed  to  Elaine  her  heart  pounded  out  her  reply. 

"  The  Isle  of  Shalimar." 

If  Grenville  knew  the  Indian  name  for  Garden,  he 
made  no  sign  that  she  could  read.  He  made  no  reply 
whatsoever,  but  gazed  as  before  at  the  sea. 

He  was  turning  at  last  when  a  low,  but  distinctly 
briefer,  recurrence  of  the  island's  haunting  wails  arose 
to  disturb  the  wondrous  calm — as  well  as  his  peace  of 
mind.  There  could  be  no  doubt  the  tidal  phenomenon 
was  gradually  but  steadily  failing. 

What  might  occur  when  it  altogether  ceased  was 
more  than  the  man  could  divine.  He  felt  a  vague  dread 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  177 

of  that  approaching  hour  and  of  what  it  might  develop. 

"  It  must  be  after  midnight,"  he  said,  at  last, 
" — time  for  night's  ordinary  dreams." 

Yet,  when  he  was  finally  stretched  on  his  bed,  he  did 
not  lose  himself  in  slumber.  Instead  he  lay  thinking 
of  the  island's  haunting  sounds  and  the  cave  somewhere 
underneath  the  headland. 

He  had  meant  to  attempt  an  inspection  of  this  place, 
if  only  to  gratify  a  natural  curiosity.  The  thought  oc 
curred  to  him  now  that,  in  case  of  dire  necessity,  it 
might  afford  such  a  shelter  as  was  not  to  be  found 
on  any  other  portion  of  the  island.  It  was  not  a  thing 
to  be  neglected.  He  made  up  his  mind  that  the  fol 
lowing  day  he  would  make  an  exploration. 


CHAPTER  XXII 

A    TOMB    OF    STONE 

THE  ladder  that  Grenville  constructed  in  the  morn 
ing  was  not  entirely  new.  He  had  found  upon  testing 
the  original  contrivance,  made  for  his  seance  with  the 
tiger,  that,  although  the  creepers  had  become  quite  dry, 
they  were  neither  weak  nor  brittle. 

He  fortified  the  older  section  with  additional  mate 
rial,  however,  to  make  absolutely  certain  it  would  not 
abruptly  part  and  drop  him  into  the  sea.  All  morn 
ing  he  worked,  while  his  smoldering  fires  continued  to 
eat  out  the  hollow  for  his  boat,  securing  new  length 
to  the  rungs  already  provided,  since  the  distance  down 
from  the  brink  of  the  cliff  was  fully  one  hundred  feet. 

To  Elaine  he  explained  that  he  thought  perhaps  a 
cave  might  exist  in  the  rock.  The  wailing  sounds,  it 
was  easy  to  argue,  would  indicate  some  such  cavity, 
which  he  felt  it  important  to  examine.  If  she  somewhat 
divined  the  further  fact  that  he  hoped  to  discover  a 
possible  retreat,  should  unforeseen  dangers  threaten, 
she  made  no  revelation  of  her  thought. 

It  was  not  without  considerable  anxiety,  however, 
that  she  finally  discovered  precisely  what  he  meant 
to  attempt.  His  ladder,  she  was  certain,  was  far  too 
frail  for  any  such  business  as  climbing  down,  above 
that  boiling  tide.  One  careless  step,  or  a  parting  of 
the  strands,  and  nothing  on  earth  could  save  the  man 

178 


AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING       179 

from  death  on  the  jutting  rocks  below.  She  had  glanced 
at  the  waters  under  the  cliff,  and  their  crystal  depths 
were  not  at  all  reassuring. 

The  thorough  precautions  against  a  mishap  that 
Grenville  finally  completed  considerably  lessened  her 
fears,  yet  she  had  no  wish  to  watch  him  descend  when 
at  length  he  slipped  over  the  edge.  She  was  gazing 
with  fixed  and  wide-open  eyes  at  the  heap  of  rocks  in 
which  he  had  fastened  the  ladder. 

The  matter  to  Grenville  seemed  simple  enough.  The 
brink  overhung  the  wall  itself,  in  consequence  of  which 
the  ladder  swung  quite  free,  down  the  face  of  the  scarp, 
till  it  touched  at  a  jutting  ledge  below.  It  swayed  to 
and  fro  and  sagged  a  bit  loosely  at  some  of  the  rungs, 
but  it  could  not  be  broken  by  his  weight. 

He  made  no  attempt  at  a  rapid  descent,  neither  did 
he  pause  to  enjoy  the  scenery.  When  the  ledge  was 
reached  he  rested,  made  certain  no  sharp-edged  stone 
could  impinge  upon  and  perhaps  cut  into  his  twisted 
creepers,  and  again  proceeded  downward. 

His  course  for  a  matter  of  two  or  three  fathoms  was 
rendered  rather  more  difficult  by  the  fact  the  ladder  lay 
closely  bent  against  the  wall,  instead  of  hanging  free. 
The  rock  face  was  pitted  and  exceedingly  rough,  its 
indentations  ill-arranged  for  footholds  and  far  too 
treacherous  for  any  such  employment. 

Grenville  was  nearly  at  the  lower  lip  of  this  projec 
tion  before  he  attempted  a  look  below  to  determine 
what  he  was  approaching.  He  discovered  then  it  was 
undercut  again — and  likewise  that  his  ladder  was  con 
siderably  short.  Its  lower  end  dangled  about  with  ir 
regular  gyrations  as  he  shifted  his  weight  from  rung 
to  rung.  It  was  fully  two  yards  above  the  water. 


180  AS  IT  WAS 

There  was  nothing  in  sight  on  which  to  plant  his  feet, 
so  far  as  he  could  discern  from  the  point  then 
occupied. 

He  continued  down  the  ledge.  When  he  reached  its 
base,  his  suspicions  were  immediately  confirmed.  It 
overhung  a  cavern,  which  was  not,  however,  the  cave. 
To  the  final  rung  but  one  of  his  ladder  he  descended, 
and  there  he  rested  to  have  a  look  about. 

He  was  hanging  directly  before  a  massive  pot-hole  in 
the  cliff — a  huge,  roughly  rounded  sort  of  chamber,  the 
roof  of  which  was  arched.  On  the  left,  it  shared  its 
pitted  wall  with  a  second  and  smaller  chamber.  On 
the  right,  its  edge  was  jaggedly  broken  against  a  yawn 
ing  hole.  This  hole  was  undoubtedly  the  cave-mouth 
described  by  the  documents  found  in  the  hidden  tube. 

From  this  point  only,  as  Grenville  could  see,  would 
its  mouth  be  readily  discovered.  Thick  curtains  of 
greenery,  draped  from  its  neighboring  walls  of  rock, 
would  shield  it  from  view  from  passing  boats,  unless 
they  should  nose  to  its  portals.  This,  with  a  swirling 
and  dangerous  tide,  no  craft  would  be  likely  to  attempt. 

The  shrubbery,  hanging  so  thickly  from  the  ledge, 
afforded  Grenville  a  puzzle.  He  knew  it  could  not  be 
a  seaweed,  since  the  tide  never  rose  to  such  a  level. 
He  presently  realized  it  was  simply  an  air  plant  of 
unusually  luxuriant  growth.  Its  roots  had  found  lodg 
ment  in  a  crevice,  where  nothing  would  be  likely  to 
disturb  it  in  its  possession. 

Concerning  the  possible  contents  of  the  cave,  its  ex 
tent,  or  immediate  surroundings,  there  was  nothing  to 
be  discovered  from  his  ladder,  twist  as  he  might  or 
crane  his  neck  to  stare  in  the  cavern's  mouth. 

He  had  practically  determined  to  return  to  the  top, 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  181 

shift  his  ladder  along,  and  once  more  make  the  descent, 
when  he  realized  his  effort  would  be  wasted.  A  thick, 
broken  shelf  of  the  pitted  tufa  jutted  many  feet  out 
above  the  cave,  and  even  beyond  the  growing  weed. 
Should  he  hang  his  ladder  directly  before  the  open 
ing,  he  would  find  himself,  when  he  came  to  its  end, 
swung  helplessly  over  the  water. 

He  could  see  distinctly  where  the  final  base  of  the 
wall  projected  into  the  tideway.  It  would  certainly 
be  no  less  than  ten  feet  removed  from  the  nearest  point 
he  could  possibly  reach  by  this  particular  method. 

It  occurred  to  his  mind  he  could  lengthen  his  strands, 
drop  himself  off  the  ladder-end,  and  swim  to  the  edge  of 
the  cave.  But,  even  as  he  turned  to  examine  the 
physical  features  afforded  to  a  swimmer,  a  huge  dark 
form  loafed  like  a  shadow  through  the  crystal  tide, 
to  rise  beyond  and  cut  the  sparkling  surface  with  a 
blackish  dorsal  fin.  There  was  no  mistaking  Mr. 
Shark. 

Grenville  nodded,  grimly.  "  Thanks  for  the  timely 
suggestion,"  he  said,  as  the  monster  once  more  sank. 
He  presently  added,  "  It's  a  boat  or  no  explorations." 
Somewhat  disappointedly,  he  returned  up  the  ladder 
to  the  top. 

"  The  cave  is  there,"  he  told  Elaine,  who  promptly 
sat  down,  in  sheer  relief,  when  she  saw  him  finally  safe, 
"  but  it  has  to  be  entered  from  the  water." 

"  Oh !  "  said  Elaine.  "  But  why  does  it  have  to  be 
entered  ?  " 

"  Well,"  said  Sidney,  at  a  loss  for  a  better  argu 
ment,  "  it  might  be  full  of  treasure ; "  and  he 
smiled. 

Elaine  was  no  less  ready  with  her  answer.     "  Treas- 


182  AS  IT  WAS 

lire  is  certainly  indispensable  to  us  here.  No  wonder 
we've  felt  that  something  was  strangely  lacking." 

"  There  you  are,"  he  rejoined.  "  I  think  I  can  pad 
dle  the  raft  about  the  cliff,  for  the  tide  could  never 
be  better." 

She  was  certain  that  Grenville  attached  some  un 
usual  importance  to  an  inspection  of  the  cave. 

"  Couldn't  I  help?  "  she  asked  him.  "  What  was  the 
fault  of  the  ladder?" 

"  Fully  six  feet  too  short.  Perhaps  you'd  better 
watch  for  passing  steamers.  If  we  missed  one — whom 
should  we  blame  ?  " 

They  had  slowly  returned  to  the  shelter,  where  the 
table  was  attractively  spread. 

"  What  a  luncheon  !  "  said  Grenville,  enthusiastically. 
"  I'll  eat  in  a  rush  and  be  back  before  you  know  I've 
gone."  He  certainly  ate  with  lively  promise. 

But,  after  the  raft  was  launched  on  the  tide,  he  lost 
all  sense  of  time.  He  had  left  his  shoes  and  stockings 
on  the  shore.  He  had  brought  a  torch,  lighted,  which 
he  lashed  in  an  upright  position  on  the  raft.  Wading 
and  paddling,  punting,  pulling,  and  at  times  even  push 
ing  his  craft  along  the  beach,  he  warmed  to  his  work 
in  the  briefest  space,  since  the  tide  could  hardly  have 
been  more  favorable  to  his  needs. 

The  pole  he  had  brought  had  a  hook  at  the  end, 
bound  firmly  in  place  with  copper  wire.  This  was  an 
excellent  provision,  especially  when  he  came  to  the  cliff, 
where  wading  was  out  of  the  question.  He  was  thus 
enabled  to  catch  at  a  ledge,  or  any  open  crevice,  and 
draw  his  unwieldy  float  along,  while  fending  it  off 
from  various  rocks  on  which  it  might  otherwise  have 
pounded. 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  183 

His  work  was  hard  and  slow.  The  distance  was  not 
discouraging,  however,  and  with  some  of  the  swirls  to 
assist,  here  and  there,  he  finally  came  to  a  broken  sort 
of  cape,  from  which  he  readily  saw  his  dangling  lad 
der.  After  that  a  hot  bit  of  fighting  was  required 
to  maintain  his  position  near  the  wall.  The  tide  was 
uneasy — a  hungry,  ugly  swirl  that  alternately  came 
and  subsided. 

When  he  passed  it  at  last  his  task  was  done,  for 
the  cave  was  a  stone's  toss  away.  It  was  not  even  then 
to  be  seen,  and  its  presence  in  the  cliff  would  scarcely 
have  been  suspected.  But  Grenville  knew7  the  luxuriant 
plant  that  grew  across  a  portion  of  its  entrance. 
When  he  presently  moored  his  raft  to  a  rock  fairly 
under  the  shadow  of  the  weed,  the  cave  was  just  above 
him. 

Under  his  feet  the  ledge  was  rough  and  sloping.  It 
was  pitted  so  completely  as  to  form  a  rude  natural 
stairway  to  the  opening  under  the  overhanging  shelf. 
This  mouth  to  the  cavern  was  hardly  six  feet  wide  and 
not  more  than  four  in  height.  Its  access  was  compara 
tively  easy. 

Grenville,  with  his  torch  in  hand,  was  presently  gaz 
ing  within.  Obliged  to  stoop,  and  beholding  nothing 
but  absolute  darkness  ahead  of  his  light,  he  stumbled 
against  a  lumpy  vein  of  rock — and  nearly  met  with 
disaster.  He  barely  halted  at  the  edge  of  a  pool  of 
ebon  water. 

After  all  his  effort  to  gain  the  cave,  it  appeared  to 
be  filled  with  this  inklike  accumulation.  The  pool  was 
absolutely  still.  Not  a  ripple  disturbed  its  shining 
surface.  How  deep  it  was  and  how  far  it  extended  from 
the  ledge  that  held  it  from  flowing  into  the  sea,  could 


184  AS  IT  WAS 

not  be  gauged  by  Grenville's  torch,  as  he  held  it  aloft 
to  stare  at  the  wall  of  velvet  gloom. 

He  sounded  a  note  that  rolled  about  and  rever 
berated  weirdly.  But  he  could  not  determine  from  the 
echoes  how  far  the  waves  had  traveled. 

Casting  his  dull-red  illumination  to  the  left,  and 
lower  down,  he  proceeded  a  little  along  the  ledge,  till 
it  merged  in  an  upright  wall.  There  was  nothing  at 
all  to  be  seen  in  this  direction  save  water  and  rock, 
that  faded  away  into  Stygian  darkness  beyond. 

He  retraced  his  steps  and  explored  the  ledge  on  the 
right.  This  led  him  considerably  further  than  the  first 
had  done  before  it  was  similarly  ended.  He  was  then 
aware  the  cavern  was  of  no  inconsiderable  dimensions, 
at  least  with  regard  to  its  width.  He  raised  his  eyes 
towards  the  ceiling,  where  nothing  was  to  be  seen. 

At  length  he  bethought  him  of  another  test — that  of 
throwing  lumps  of  rock  against  the  walls.  There  were 
fragments  in  plenty  scattered  loosely  at  his  feet.  The 
first  one  he  threw  went  straight  out  ahead — and  pres 
ently  thumped  on  something  solid.  He  reckoned  the 
distance  some  sixty  feet  away,  but  admitted  it  might 
have  been  eighty. 

Every  missile  he  cast  right,  left,  or  at  an  angle 
promptly  reported  a  wall ;  and  some  plumped  back  into 
water.  The  cave  was  not  gigantic,  but  all  its  floor 
was  apparently  flooded.  His  hand,  which  he  thrust  in 
the  water  where  he  stood,  groped  blindly  and  found 
no  bottom.  He  rolled  up  his  sleeve  and  tried  again, 
without  more  definite  results.  The  water,  however,  was 
warm. 

"  Good  place  for  a  swim,  in  any  case,"  he  told  him 
self,  aloud;  and,  planting  his  torch  with  a  sudden  de- 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  185 

termination  that  he  would  not  retreat  with  information 
so  utterly  meager,  he  stripped  off  his  clothing  at  once. 

He  let  himself  into  the  ebon  depths,  with  his  torch 
held  well  above  the  water.  He  had  rather  expected  to 
be  able  to  wade,  but  he  sank  to  his  neck  without  sound 
ing  to  the  bottom. 

Swimming  almost  perpendicularly,  employing  one 
hand  only,  he  presently  lost  all  sight  of  the  walls  and 
was  out  in  an  unknown  pool  of  blackness.  Save  for 
a  slight  sensation  of  its  weirdness,  the  experience  was 
decidedly  pleasant.  He  tasted  the  water  as  he  swam 
and  found  that  it  was  fresh.  He  turned  to  look  out 
at  the  opening,  but  could  barely  see  light  through  the 
weeds. 

Some  twenty  or  thirty  feet  from  the  ledge,  his  feet 
encountered  a  ridge.  It  was  stone,  and  across  it  he 
waded  to  a  greater  depth  beyond.  Yet  once  again 
he  was  soon  enabled  to  stand  erect  and  walk  along 
the  bottom.  The  broken,  uneven  surface  that  he  felt 
with  his  feet  made  his  progress  slow  and  careful. 

He  had  presently  crossed  the  underground  pond,  up 
the  sloping  bank  of  which  he  was  soon  making  rapid 
progress.  He  emerged  on  a  dry  ledge  beyond.  Even 
then  the  walls  were  not  to  be  seen  till  he  walked  a  rod 
straight  onward. 

The  briefest  examination  sufficed  to  establish  the  fact 
he  had  come  to  a  sort  of  natural  antechamber  to  the 
larger  cavern  he  had  crossed.  Also,  apparently,  the 
entire  place  was  as  empty  as  a  last  year's  bird's-nest. 

Vaguely  disappointed,  though  he  hardly  knew  why, 
the  man  surveyed  the  place  anew,  by  the  light  that 
entered  at  the  opening  as  well  as  by  that  of  his  torch. 
He  saw  at  once  that,  could  it  be  drained,  the  place 


186        AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING 

would  afford  a  retreat  of  amazing  security  for  anyone 
needful  of  shelter.  He  was  also  certain  he  could  drain 
it  in  a  day  by  blasting  through  the  ledge  of  rock  that 
blocked  the  entrance  from  the  sea  and  so  retained  the 
pool. 

With  one  more  brief  and  cursory  examination  of  the 
rocky  structure  about  him,  he  was  turning  away  when 
something  foreign  about  a  slab  of  stone,  that  seemed  a 
fragment  of  the  solid  wall,  attracted  his  attention. 

He  laid  his  hand  upon  its  top  as  if  to  pull  it  down. 
It  came  away  so  readily  it  all  but  fell  on  his  feet.  Be 
hind  it  the  crudest  sort  of  masonry  walled  up  a  natural 
door. 

Ten  minutes  later,  standing  on  the  heap  of  blocks 
he  had  tumbled  rapidly  down  in  forming  a  gap  through 
four  feet  at  least  of  this  bulkhead,  Grenville  thrust  his 
torch  within  a  nichelike  chamber  of  the  cavern. 

A  low  exclamation  of  astonishment  burst  from  his 
lips  at  the  vision  thus  suddenly  encountered. 

The  place  was  a  tomb  for  dead  kings'  gold  and 
precious  stones  that  threw  back  the  gleams  from  his 
torch ! 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

A    DESPERATE    CHANCE 

FOR  fully  a  minute  Grcnville  was  motionless,  there 
in  the  gap,  surveying  the  treasure  crypt. 

The  more  his  eyes  became  accustomed  to  the  yellow 
ish  light  and  inky  shadows,  the  more  extensive  became 
his  estimate  of  the  wealth  the  cave  contained. 

The  symbols  and  trinkets  of  solid  metal  and  glisten 
ing  stones  were  arranged  not  only  on  rudely-hewn 
shelves  about  the  cavern's  walls,  but  likewise  in  several 
stone  receptacles,  like  sarcophagi  in  miniature,  cut 
from  the  tufa  of  the  island.  It  was  partially  because 
of  this  feature  of  the  hidden  niche  that  Grenville  con 
cluded  the  property  here  had  once  belonged  to  either 
Indian  or  African  native  chiefs  and  that  this  was  a 
mortuary  house  of  guarded  treasure. 

There  was,  however,  further  confirmation  of  his 
theory.  This  was  a  crude  inscription  on  the  wall  above 
the  shelves  and  caskets.  It  was  simply  that  same 
cartouch  he  had  found  on  the  map  or  parchment — 
once  part  of  a  living  being — with  the  figure  of  a 
mummy  in  the  oval.  On  either  side  of  this  the  beetle 
or  scarab  was  repeated. 

The  utter  inutility  of  gold  and  gleaming  jewels  was 
momentarily  forgotten  as  Grenville  stared  in  from  the 
wall.  The  island,  its  perils — everything  save  an  un 
derlying  current  of  thought  that  wove  about  Elaine — 

187 


188  AS  IT  WAS 

had  ceased  for  the  moment  to  impress  his  newly  dazzled 
senses.  He  withdrew  his  arm  to  plant  his  torch  in  the 
stones  already  removed.  Then  lustily  heaving  out  stone 
after  stone,  like  some  naked  god  of  the  underworld, 
half  revealed  in  the  smoky  glare,  he  began  to  demolish 
the  barrier  so  carefully  erected  in  the  cave. 

He  had  torn  down  nearly  half  the  bulk  of  this  un- 
cemented  wall,  filling  the  larger  cavern  weirdly  full  of 
the  crashing  and  thudding  noises,  when  one  of  the  frag 
ments,  tossed  unthinkingly  behind  him,  bounded  from 
another  rock  and  struck  down  his  torch  and  its  light. 

Utter  darkness  instantly  descended.  He  tried  to 
grope  his  way  quickly  forward,  thinking  the  torch 
might  be  recovered  and  blown  to  a  flame  again.  But 
he  stumbled,  fell  down  upon  his  knees,  and  was  bruised 
on  the  stones  about  his  feet.  When  he  finally  found 
the  torch  with  his  hand,  a  rock  lay  squarely  upon  it; 
the  last  of  its  fire  was  gone. 

Thoroughly  disgusted  with  his  carelessness,  he  stood 
undecidedly  above  the  unseen  ruin  he  had  wrought.  To 
attempt  further  work  of  removing  the  wall  by  the  faint 
diffusion  of  light  that  entered  from  the  outside  world, 
was  out  of  the  question.  To  enter  the  crypt  before 
the  aperture  could  be  considerably  enlarged  was  equally 
impossible.  Moreover,  the  treasure  was  safe,  as  he 
presently  admitted. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  he  began  to  realize  at  last  how 
futile  had  been  his  labor.  He  remembered,  abruptly, 
where  he  was,  the  details  of  his  helpless  situation.  Ex 
cept  as  something  to  show  Elaine,  or  to  load  her  with 
as  presents,  the  stuff  in  the  cave  was  as  worthless  as 
so  much  dross. 

There  was  nothing  to  do  but  retreat  as  he  had  come. 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  189 

This  he  presently  did,  reluctantly  turning  from  the 
half -uncovered  cavern  and  wading  into  the  pool. 

Without  his  torch,  and  swimming  towards  the  light, 
he  was  now  enabled,  to  some  extent,  to  discern  the 
limits  of  the  cave.  He  could  see  a  portion  of  the  ceil 
ing  and  a  bit  of  the  wall  on  his  left.  Both  were  feature 
less,  to  all  appearances.  The  water's  surface  presented 
a  more  extensive  aspect  with  the  light  thus  spread  be 
fore  him,  but  its  farther  limits  could  not  be  descried, 
where  its  inkiness  blended  with  the  gloom. 

When  he  came  at  length  to  the  ledge  that  formed  a 
natural  dam  across  the  entrance,  thereby  impounding 
the  water,  he  looked  it  over  with  greater  care  than 
when  he  had  first  trod  upon  it,  to  determine  where 
would  be  the  likeliest  spot  for  a  blast  to  break  it 
down. 

There  could  be  no  debate  upon  this  subject.  Over 
against  the  upright  wall,  on  the  left-hand  side  looking 
out,  the  ledge  not  only  narrowed  down,  where  a  pot 
hole  pitted  it  deeply,  but  a  tiny  crevice  extended  so 
nearly  through  the  remaining  substance  that  a  trickle 
of  water  already  oozed  downward  towards  the  sea.  The 
perpendicular  wall  here  also  was  broken,  a  number  of 
fragments  of  exceptional  size  appearing  so  loose  as  to 
threaten  toppling  over. 

Grenville  was  leisurely  in  all  this  examination.  He 
was  either  obliged  to  permit  his  body  to  dry  in  the 
air  or  dress  while  dripping  wet.  Yet  at  length  he  was 
once  more  clothed  and  ready  to  depart.  He  remained 
for  a  moment,  taking  a  final  survey  of  the  place  and 
planning  the  details  of  his  blasting  operations,  then 
stooped  and  made  his  exit  from  the  place. 

The  brilliant  light  of  outer  day  bewildered  him  mo- 


190  AS  IT  WAS 

mentarily.  He  stared  below,  however,  as  if  he  felt  he 
might  be  blind.  The  raft  was  not  where  he  had 
left  it. 

Hastily  scrambling  down  the  incline  of  the  ledge,  he 
promptly  arrived  at  its  base.  His  view  was  limited, 
even  then,  to  a  segment  of  the  open,  purple  sea.  But 
the  worst  of  his  fears  was  confirmed.  The  raft  had 
floated  away.  It  was  nowhere  to  be  seen ! 

The  tide  had  run  out  with  amazing  swiftness.  Its 
level  was  such  that  the  ceaseless  swells  ran  under  his 
ledge,  instead  of  up  about  it.  The  creeper-cord,  which 
he  had  utilized  to  moor  his  craft  to  the  bowlders,  hung 
uselessly  over  the  edge.  It  had  parted  at  once  when 
the  ponderous  raft  had  been  caught  in  the  swirl  of  an 
eddy. 

This  eddy  was  running  intermittently,  as  Grcnville 
soon  discovered.  Disgust  with  himself  for  his  careless 
ness,  and  a  vague  disquiet  concerning  his  helpless  situa 
tion,  addressed  his  comprehension  together.  He  was 
bounded  by  huge  overhanging  walls  and  a  water  abound 
ing  in  sharks.  If  only  by  boat  could  the  cavern  be 
reached,  then  only  by  boat 

He  thought  of  his  ladder,  dangling  in  air  where  he 
had  left  it,  and  believed  for  a  second  he  could  hook 
it  in  with  his  pole,  still  lying  on  the  rocks.  But  no 
sooner  had  he  climbed  a  little  up  the  ledge,  to  a  point 
from  which  the  ladder  could  be  seen,  than  he  realized 
the  folly  of  his  hope.  It  was  twenty  feet  off  at  the 
least,  and  fully  eight  above  the  water. 

The  fact  that  the  tide  was  continuing  to  fall,  that 
the  raft  had  doubtless  departed  the  island  forever,  and 
that  night  might  find  him  here,  a  helpless  prisoner,  was 
no  great  motive  for  alarm.  But  Grenville  was  not  slow 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  191 

to  realize  that  escape  from  his  predicament  would  be  no 
more  readily  accomplished  on  the  morrow  than  it  could 
to-day — that  high  tide  and  low  tide  were  alike  of  no 
avail  to  return  him  to  the  terrace  and  Elaine. 

The  thought  of  Elaine  and  the  fears  she  must  cer 
tainly  experience,  did  he  fail  to  return  that  night, 
aroused  a  new  impatience  in  his  blood.  He  could  al 
most  have  made  up  his  mind  to  slip  overboard  at  once 
and  take  his  chances  of  swimming  about  the  base  of 
the  wall,  despite  its  treacherous  currents,  had  he  not 
remembered  the  sharks. 

"  It's  the  ladder — or  night,"  he  murmured,  para 
phrasing  Wellington's  utterance  at  Waterloo,  somewhat 
grimly,  and  again  he  went  down  to  the  edge  of  the 
shelf  of  rock  left  dripping  by  the  tide. 

"  Elaine !  "  he  called,  with  a  lusty  breath,  yet  with 
out  an  accent  of  distress.  "  Elaine !  .  .  .  Elaine ! 
.  .  .  Are  you  there?  " 

There  was  no  response,  save  the  swashing  of  the 
waves,  which  he  knew  were  constantly  retreating,  leav 
ing  the  ladder  yet  more  high  above  the  heaving 
surface. 

Once  more  he  shouted  as  before,  perhaps  a  trifle 
louder.  And  again  he  heard  no  reply.  He  began  to 
fear  the  shelf  of  rock  that  projected  out  above  him 
might  send  the  sound  waves  too  far  outwards,  towards 
the  sea,  for  Elaine  on  the  terrace  to  hear. 

He  had  no  alternative  but  to  shout  repeatedly.  This 
he  did,  at  regular  intervals,  all  the  time  striving  to 
eliminate  the  slightest  accent  that  would  rouse  her  sense 
of  fear.  It  seemed,  however,  as  if  no  sort  of  cry  could 
bring  a  response  from  the  top.  He  moved  to  another 
position  at  last  and  tried  with  a  longer,  shriller  tone. 


192  AS  IT  WAS 

"  Yes !  Yes !  "  came  a  bright,  clear  call,  at  last. 
"  Can  you  hear  me  now  any  better?  " 

She  had  answered  before,  as  he  instantly  knew,  but 
her  voice  had  been  snatched  afar  from  the  cliff  by  a 
circular  current  of  wind. 

"  All  right !  "  shouted  Grenville,  enormously  relieved. 
"  I'm  down  here  below  and  I'd  rather  return  by  the 
ladder.  Can  you  hear  me  quite  distinctly  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes ! "  cried  Elaine,  whose  fears  were  vast, 
though  she  would  not  betray  them  in  her  voice.  "  Do 
you  want  me  to  change  it — or  something?  " 

"  A  trifle,  yes — as  I'll  direct  you."  He  paused  for 
a  moment  to  make  his  directions  as  clear  and  concise 
as  possible.  Then  he  shouted: 

"  First  move  a  few  of  the  ro«cks  to  a  point  as  near 
the  edge  as  possible  and  about  ten  feet  to  the  left  of 
the  present  position.  ...  Is  that  clear?" 

"  Yes — very  clear — quite  clear —          And  then  ?  " 

"  Then  lift  off  the  others  and  remove  the  ladder — 
carefully.  Mind  it's  just  a  bit  heavy." 

He  paused,  and  she  cried :  "  Yes !     I  hear  you !  " 

"  Take  the  ladder  at  once  to  the  rocks  already  placed 
and  roll  them  on  its  end,  to  hold  it  down." 

"  Then  heap  all  the  others  upon  it  ?  "  Her  question 
came  ringing  down  the  cliff. 

"  Yes — and  as  promptly—  But  don't  overtax 

your  strength." 

There  was  no  reply  to  this  final  instruction.  That 
the  quickest  of  action  was  highly  essential,  she  had  felt 
in  the  very  air.  She  was  hotly,  valiantly  tugging  at  the 
rocks  before  his  last  words  had  died  upon  the  breeze. 

He  presently  saw  the  ladder-end  jerk  about  spas 
modically  and  ascend  for  perhaps  a  foot.  Elaine  had 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  193 

the  weight  of  it  in  her  hands — and  her  strength  was 
equal  to  the  task! 

He  watched  it,  his  heart  wildly  thrilling  at  the 
thought  of  her  ready  wit  and  courage — her  certain, 
sturdy  helpfulness  in  every  trying  crisis. 

With  more  wild  gyrations  about  the  ledge,  the  ladder- 
end  now  disappeared.  It  was  gone  for  a  moment  only, 
to  return  at  a  point  more  directly  above  his  head.  Here 
it  halted,  moved  about  uncertainly,  then  lowered  jerk 
ily  downward,  to  dangle  at  last  with  its  last  rung  all  but 
on  the  water,  some  eight  or  ten  feet  away.  He  knew 
that  its  upper  end  was  lightly  anchored  and  would 
soon  be  firmly  held  in  place. 

He  caught  up  his  pole,  with  the  hook  at  its  end,  to 
fish  the  ladder  inward.  But,  fearing  that  any  untimely 
tug  might  fetch  it  all  doubling  down  the  cliff,  he  in 
stantly  halted  the  maneuver  and  compelled  himself  to 
wait. 

Five  minutes  went  by — five  ages  for  slowness  of 
movement.  He  was  certain  by  then  Elaine  had  made 
the  end  too  secure  to  be  readily  dislodged.  He  stepped 
to  the  outermost  edge  of  the  shelf,  with  the  pole  hori 
zontally  extended. 

It  was  short  by  perhaps  six  inches.  Strain  as  he 
would,  he  could  not  reach  either  one  of  the  rungs  or 
supports.  A  light  puff  of  wind  then  bent  it  slightly 
inward,  and  he  fished  out  wildly,  in  the  hope  the 
discrepancy  thus  amended  might  be  wholly  over 
come. 

But  his  hook  still  prodded  the  empty  air,  while  the 
zephyrs  that  played  with  the  dangling  thing  seemed 
solely  bent  on  his  torture.  The  sweat  oozed  out  on  his 
temples,  for  the  straining  made  him  warm.  A  sense 


194        AS  IT  WAS   IN  THE  BEGINNING 

of  disappointment  amounting  almost  to  despair  at 
tacked  him  for  a  moment. 

"  I  shall  leap  out  and  swim !  "  he  told  himself,  at  last. 
"  I'll  not  remain  here  for  the  night !  " 

He  returned  to  the  point  from  which  Elaine  had 
finally  been  heard. 

She  did  not  immediately  answer  when  he  called  as 
he  had  before.  When  her  voice  came  down,  he  was 
certain  her  breath  was  broken. 

"  I've — carried  the  last  rock — over — and  one  or  two 
— extra,  besides." 

"  Right  ho !  "  responded  Grenville,  cheerfully.  "  You 
might  stand  away  while  I  test  it." 

He  knew  that  a  sudden  throwing  of  his  weight  upon 
the  ladder  might  suffice  to  fetch  it  down.  He  could  not 
be  sure  that,  with  all  her  ready  helpfulness  and  prompt 
ness,  Elaine  had  so  heaped  the  rocks  above  as  to  make 
the  thing  secure. 

"  I  can  always  get  back  here  for  the  night,"  he  mur 
mured  to  himself,  as  he  scanned  the  swirl  below.  "  And 
when  it  calms  down  from  that  bally  twist 

The  whirlpool  was  even  then  subsiding,  in  its  inter 
mittent  way.  He  quickly  ascended  the  sloping  ledge, 
the  better  to  run  and  leap  far  outward.  His  pole  he 
dropped  upon  the  rocks  as  he  hung  there  poised  for 
his  plunge.  His  eyes  were  keenly  fixed  on  the  tide. 

The  waters  became  quiescent.  Swiftly  Grenville 
darted  down  the  ledge,  leaping  well  out,  towards  the  end 
of  the  ladder.  He  was  fairly  in  midair  when  his  gaze 
was  directed  to  a  dark  form  loafing  in  the  depths. 

Before  he  struck,  by  some  quick  flirt  the  huge  form 
rose,  coming  inward,  and  a  black  fin  cut  through  the 
waves. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

A    DREADED    VISITOR 

WHAT  it  was  that  happened  when  he  felt  the  waters 
swiftly  rising  all  about  him  Grenville  could  never  have 
told.  He  was  almost  certain  his  foot  had  come  in  con 
tact  with  a  heavy,  pulpy  surface,  like  a  wet  thing  made 
of  rubber,  as  he  did  his  utmost  to  strike  his  assailant 
with  his  heel. 

He  could  only  be  certain  that  he  seemed  to  plunge 
downward  interminably,  and  that  afterwards  a  horrible 
rush  of  waters,  lashed  to  violence,  was  sounding  wildly 
in  his  ears  and  confusing  his  staring  eyes. 

Then  he  came  to  the  top  with  a  sickening  conviction 
that  one  of  his  legs  would  be  gone  almost  before  he 
could  feel  the  incisions  of  the  teeth  where  the  shark 
was  closing  upon  it.  He  lurched  tremendously  for 
ward  in  the  water,  to  close  the  short  but  vital  gap 
between  himself  and  the  ladder. 

It  seemed  to  him  then  a  nightmare  must  be  binding 
his  limbs  to  inaction — that  incredible  time  was  elapsing 
while  he  still  remained  in  the  tide.  As  a  matter  of 
fact,  he  had  moved  with  prodigious  energy,  his  strokes 
and  velocity  through  the  water  phenomenally  swift. 
And,  when  he  caught  at  the  lowermost  rung,  he  shot 
from  the  depths  like  some  weirdly  living  projectile, 
doubled  up  in  a  knot  by  its  speed. 

For  his  knees  were  drawn  sharply  upward,  and  hand 
195 


196  AS  IT  WAS 

over  hand  he  scaled  up  his  swaying  support.  But  his 
ears  heard  the  hiss  where  that  terrible  fin  was  cut 
ting  the  waves  beneath  him.  One  quick  glance  he  sped 
to  the  place  comprehended  the  turning  monster's  belly, 
the  open  mouth,  and  even  the  hideous  nose  that  shot 
beneath  his  very  foot  like  the  point  of  a  speeding 
torpedo. 

To  the  round  above  he  scrambled  no  less  galvanically 
— only  to  feel  a  sudden  giving  of  the  ladder.  A  wild 
conviction  of  the  structure's  insecurity  above — its  giv 
ing  way  beneath  the  incautious  strain  he  had  unavoid 
ably  put  upon  it — scorched  its  way  into  his  brain,  while 
he  still  looked  down  upon  the  shark. 

But  that  one  slip  ended  as  abruptly  as  it  had  come. 
It  was  all  in  the  rung  he  had  clutched  in  desperate  vio 
lence,  and  not  in  the  ladder  itself.  Elaine's  rock 
anchorage  was  firm ! 

A  swift  and  weakening  reaction  now  ensued  in  all 
his  being,  as  he  clung  there,  dripping  but  safe.  He 
leaned  on  the  ladder-rung  heavily,  to  regain  his  breath 
and  strength.  He  was  panting  and  all  but  exhausted 
for  the  moment.  When  at  length  he  resumed  the  up 
ward  climb,  the  shark  was  no  longer  to  be  seen. 

He  paused  a  bit  longer  on  the  shelving  ledge  above 
to  gather  his  wits  in  proper  order. 

"  Sidney!  "  he  heard.  "  Are  you  coming?  Are  you 
there?" 

"  Well,  rather !  "  he  called  out,  cheerily.  "  Stopped 
like  a  kid  to — examine  the  geological  formation."  He 
started  upward  promptly,  whistling  as  he  went. 

It  was  not,  however,  without  a  tremendous  effort  that 
he  finally  pulled  himself  over  the  brink,  in  all  the  weight 
of  his  soaking  garments,  and  struggled  to  his  feet. 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  197 

"  Why — you're  wet !  "  said  Elaine,  concealing  her 
hands,  which  were  cut  and  bruised  from  the  heavy  stones 
she  had  carried.  "  Did  you  have  to  swim  to  get  the 
ladder?  " 

He  knew  her  hands  were  hurt,  but  maintained  his 
usual  manner. 

"  I  did.  But  the  water  is  warm — in  fact,  it  was 
very  warm,  indeed." 

"But  couldn't  you  use  the  raft?" 

"  I  couldn't,"  he  answered,  candidly.  "  The  raft  got 
away  while  I  was  pothering  about,  and,  unless  it  faith 
fully  floats  ashore,  we  may  never  see  its  honest  face 
again." 

Elaine's  expression  brightened. 

"  I'm  perfectly  delighted  to  hear  it !  Now  you  never 
can  go  there  again !  " 

Grenville  was  amused  at  the  turn  of  her  reflections. 

"  But  what  about  the  treasure  in  the  crypt?  " 

"  I  don't  believe  there's  any  treasure  in  the  crypt. 
There  never  is,  except  in  wonderful  stories.  And,  if 
there  was,  what  good  could  it  be  to  us  ?  " 

Grenville  met  her  magnetic  gaze,  now  brightened  by 
her  challenge.  It  was  not  a  time  to  excite  new  alarms 
in  her  heart  by  divulging  the  facts  he  had  discovered. 
For  she  would  be  alarmed  were  she  once  informed  of 
the  wealth  concealed  beneath  their  feet.  She  would  in 
stantly  understand  the  dangers  to  them  both  from  the 
men  who  had  hidden  the  treasure. 

"  Well,"  he  said,  with  an  air  of  lightness  he  was 
very  far  from  feeling,  "  I  confess  I'd  rather  have  a 
good  pot  of  steaming  black  coffee  at  this  particular 
juncture  than  all  the  gold  and  jewels  of  the  land." 

"  Oh,     please     don't     mention     it ! "     said     Elaine. 


198  AS  IT  WAS 

"  Haven't,  I  tried  every  leaf  I  could  find,  to  make  you 
something  to  drink?  "  And  a  wistful  pucker  came  to 
her  brow  that  made  her  more  than  ever  enchanting. 
"  You've  no  idea,"  she  added,  "  what  horrid  messes 
this  island  foliage  can  make." 

"  Wouldn't  wonder,"  said  Grenville,  calmly.  But, 
having  come  to  the  shaded  cave,  he  was  grateful  for  a 
drink  of  cool,  sweet  water  and  glad  to  sit  down  for  a 
rest. 

The  subject  of  the  cave  was  dropped,  but  his 
thoughts  could  not  fade  in  Grenville's  mind.  They  lay 
in  substrata,  beneath  more  homely  plans  for  resuming 
his  interrupted  labors.  But,  beyond  going  down  to  dig 
some  yams  to  roast  with  a  pheasant  killed  the  previous 
day,  he  returned  to  no  toils  that  afternoon.  He  paused 
to  examine  the  shell  of  his  boat,  which  fire,  plus  his 
chisel,  was  finally  evolving  from  the  log,  and,  finding 
unusual  quantities  of  blackly  charred  stuff  to  be  gouged 
away  in  the  morning,  determined  to  be  early  at  the 
task. 

This  plan  was  one  of  the  sort  that  "  gang  aglee." 
He  fished,  with  Elaine,  till  nine  o'clock  the  following 
day,  to  provide  a  needful  change  of  their  diet ;  then 
placed  some  fresh  signals  on  their  flagpole.  At  eleven, 
however,  he  was  once  more  at  his  boat,  with  his  fires 
freshly  blazing.  He  was  working  gayly,  aroused  to  a 
new  enthusiasm  over  final  results  to  be  achieved  by  the 
excellent  progress  his  former  fires  had  made  upon  the 
log.  A  few  more  days  of  work  like  that — and  he  would 
have  to  be  thinking  of  the  launching. 

This  was  not  a  thought  he  had  neglected.  In  a 
vague  sort  of  way  the  problem  of  moving  his  boat  to 
the  water's  edge  had  bothered  him  from  the  first.  It 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  199 

would  have  to  be  run  on  rollers,  he  admitted.  Doubt 
less  a  way  would  have  to  be  cleared  through  some  of  the 
undergrowth. 

Reflecting  that  this  was  a  task  to  be  performed  while 
the  fires  were  doing  their  daily  stint,  he  made  a  pre 
liminary  survey  of  the  jungle  to  select  the  most  prac 
tical  route.  The  way  across  the  grassy  clearing  was 
not  only  long,  but  in  places  inclined  to  be  rough.  For 
tunately,  in  either  direction  the  way  was  all  down 
grade. 

He  had  never  yet  forced  a  way  to  the  shore  through 
the  jungle  beyond  his  tree-trunk  smelter.  Thither  he 
wended  his  way  to  note  what  this  route  might  offer. 

Breaking  the  branches  from  before  his  path,  and 
rather  inclined  to  believe  a  trail  might  once  have  been 
forced  through  the  thicket,  he  was  penetrating  deeper 
and  deeper  into  the  moist  and  thickly  shaded  region 
when  he  presently  halted,  almost  certain  he  had  heard 
someone  calling  his  name. 

"  Sidney !  Sidney ! "  came  the  cry  again,  from 
Elaine  up  above  him  on  the  cliff.  "  Sidney !  Where  are 
you?  A  boat!  I've  seen  a  sail!  There's  someone  com 
ing  at  last !  " 

He  had  smashed  his  way  out  while  she  was  calling. 

"  A  sail !  "  she  repeated,  excitedly,  the  moment  he 
appeared.  "  Oh,  come ! — please  come  at  once !  " 

She  disappeared  swiftly  from  the  edge,  running  back, 
lest  the  sight  be  lost  forever. 

Actively,  Grenville  went  bounding  across  the  clear 
ing  and  up  their  narrow  trail.  He  was  panting  and 
eager  when  Elaine  ran  forward  to  meet  him,  and 
clutched  him  by  the  arm. 

"  I  knew  it  would  come ! — I  knew  it !  "  she  cried,  as 


200  AS  IT  WAS 

she  hastened  hotly  forward  at  his  side.  "  We  must 
wave  things  as  hard  as  we  can !  " 

She  had  guided  him  swiftly  to  the  great  lone  tree 
that  stood  like  the  island's  landmark,  to  be  seen  for 
many  a  mile.  She  pointed  in  triumph  afar  across  the 
sea — and  Grenville  beheld  a  tiny  sail,  like  the  merest 
white  notch  in  the  sky. 

"  Can  they  see  us  yet?  Shall  we  wave?  "  said  Elaine. 
"  They  couldn't  go  by  and  miss  us  now?  " 

She  was  still  clinging  fast  to  Grenville's  arm,  and 
tears  had  sprung  to  her  eyes.  What  long,  long  hours 
of  torture,  anxiety,  and  hope  she  had  expended,  ut 
tering  no  complaint  as  the  days  went  by,  the  man 
abruptly  knew.  Then  something  indescribably  poignant 
shot  boltlike  through  his  heart. 

Elaine  felt  him  harden,  grow  rigid,  as  his  gaze  nar 
rowed  down  on  the  distant  thing  she  had  found  in  their 
purple  sea.  The  note  that  broke  from  his  lips  at  last 
made  a  shiver  go  down  her  spine. 

He  suddenly  turned,  and  his  arm  was  wrenched  from 
her  clasp.  He  sped  like  a  madman  back  to  their  mast 
and  heaved  all  his  weight  against  it.  He  threw  back 
the  rocks  that  held  it  in  place  in  the  crevice  to  which 
it  had  been  fitted. 

Before  she  could  follow,  to  question  what  he  did, 
Elaine  saw  him  drop  the  pole  over. 

"  Sidney !  "  she  said,  but  the  face  that  he  turned 
wore  a  look  that  was  new  to  her  ken. 

"  Pull  up  the  ladder  from  the  rocks !  "  he  called. 
"  Then  go  to  the  shelter  and  stay ! " 

He  himself  ran  to  the  cavern,  to  take  up  their  lar 
gest  jug  of  water.  With  this  in  his  arms,  he  hastened 
down  the  trail  to  quench  the  flames  beneath  his  boat. 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  201 

And  when,  with  more  water,  hurried  from  the  spring, 
he  had  drowned  the  last  blue  wisp  of  smoke,  he  brought 
the  full  jug  to  the  cave  again  and  tore  down  the  im 
provised  awning. 

"We  had  better  hail  death  than  that  craft!"  he 
said,  "  unless  I  am  very  much  mistaken !  " 


CHAPTER  XXV 

AN    IRREPARABLE    LOSS 

ELAINE  was  dumbly  appalled  for  a  moment  by  the 
words  that  Grenville  had  uttered.  She  finally  found 
her  voice. 

"  But — why?  I  don't  believe  I  understand.  It  isn't 
someone — some  horrible  men  who  hunt  human  heads  for 
trophies  ?  " 

Grenville  was  glad  she  knew  what  a  head-hunter 
means.  He  loathed  the  necessity  of  making  revolting 
explanations.  He  vainly  wished  he  might  spare  her 
now — that  his  judgment  might  be  in  error.  But  the 
rakish  angle  of  that  sail,  though  so  far  away  on  the 
water,  had  left  him  no  room  to  doubt  that  natives  were 
manning  the  craft. 

"  They  may  be  friendly  visitors,  after  all,"  he  an 
swered.  "  And  then  again  they  may  not.  It  may  be 
as  wise  for  us  to  see  them  first,  and  determine  our  con 
duct  later." 

"You  do  fear  them,  then?  But  how  can  we  hide — 
if  they  land  and  come  up  on  the  hill?  " 

"  They  shall  never  come  up — if  I  can  help  it !  If  I 
only  had  a  few  more  bombs !  "  He  had  gone  to  his 
cave  and  was  dragging  forth  his  little  cannon.  "  I 
haven't  even  a  hatful  of  slugs  with  which  to  charge  this 
plaything !  " 

Elaine  had  remained  obediently  at  her  shelter,  in  the 
door  of  which  she  stood. 

202 


AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING       203 

"  Won't  they  see  you  ?  "  she  said,  her  voice  already 
lowered,  as  if  in  fear  its  accents  might  be  overheard 
where  the  distant  boat  was  approaching.  "Have  you 
more  old  pieces  of  brass  ?  " 

"  Some,"  said  Grenville,  reluctant  to  use  his  re 
maining  metal  in  such  an  extravagant  manner.  "  I 
have  nothing  else  that  will  answer,  hang  the  luck !  .  .  . 
They  can't  see  us  yet,  but  we'll  move  about  with  cau 
tion.  ...  I  wish  I  had  made  more  powder !  I  have 
only  a  few  feet  of  fuse.  I  must  get  some  additional 
creepers  at  once  and  let  them  dry  out  in  the  sun." 

He  went  down  to  the  jungle  immediately  for  a  fresh 
supply  of  this  highly  essential  growth,  leaving  Elaine 
at  the  shelter,  a  prey  to  dread  that  had  utterly  oblit 
erated  her  bitter  disappointment.  She  stooped,  to 
steal  forward  on  the  rocks  and  look  for  the  sail  again. 
It  was  still  so  far  on  the  sun-lit  surface  of  the  ocean 
that  it  seemed  no  nearer  than  before.  She  returned 
once  more  to  the  cave. 

Grenville  came  up,  fairly  laden  with  freshly  severed 
creepers. 

"  I've  thought  of  a  means  for  making  bombs !  "  he 
told  her,  triumphantly.  "  Perhaps  you  can  split  these 
creepers  and  take  out  the  cores  while  I  go  to  fetch  some 
bamboo  poles." 

"  Couldn't  I  fill  them  with  powder?  "  Elaine  inquired, 
anxiously.  "  I  watched  you  before.  I  am  sure  I  would 
make  no  great  mistakes." 

He  knew  she  was  nervous,  eager  to  be  employed. 

"  Sure  shot  you  could,"  he  answered,  briskly,  and, 
going  to  the  cave  employed  as  his  "  powder  magazine," 
he  brought  her  a  jar  of  explosive.  "  Don't  be  afraid 
to  put  in  all  that  the  creeper  tube  will  carry,"  he  in- 


204  AS  IT  WAS 

structed.     "  And  tie  it  with  fibers  here  and  there,  to 
keep  the  edges  together." 

With  his  heaviest  tools  he  descended  at  once  to  the 
bamboo  growth,  where  he  was  presently  toiling  hard. 
Elaine,  no  less  industriously,  was  hotly  assailing  the 
creepers,  held  firmly  down  with  heavy  rocks,  to  make 
their  manipulation  easy. 

She  had  filled  and  bound  a  considerable  length  of 
this  simply  manufactured  fuse  when  Grenville  returned 
to  the  terrace.  For  his  part,  he  bore  across  his  shoul 
der  three  great  long  stems  of  green  bamboo  that  were 
three  inches  through  at  the  base. 

"  I  can  cut  this  stuff  at  its  divisions,"  he  explained, 
"  fill  the  smaller  sections  with  powder,  and  fit  the  larger 
ones  over  them,  like  a  shell  within  a  shell.  A  natural 
growth  plugs  each  one  up  at  the  end,  and  I'll  also 
cap  each  end  with  a  rock,  and  wrap  the  whole  contrap 
tion  about  with  creepers.  Of  course,  the  fuse  will  go 
in  first.  I  wish  the  stuff  were  dry !  " 

The  spirit  of  battle  was  no  less  aroused  in  Elaine, 
whose  mood  was  the  equal  of  his  own. 

"  Couldn't  we  use  the  cannon  first — keep  them  off 
with  that  while  the  fuses  and  things  are  drying?  " 

"  It's  our  only  chance,  if  they  raid  us  by  the  trail. 
They  can  scarcely  arrive  for  two  or  three  hours  more. 
The  tide  will  be  against  them —  If  we  keep  out  of 
sight,  they  may  not  detect  our  presence." 

"  Anyway,"  added  Elaine,  sagely,  "  they  needn't 
know  how  few  we  are  in  numbers." 

"  Right  ho !  "  he  answered,  cheerily.  "  The  trail  is 
steep  and  narrow.  We  can  train  the  gun  to  rake  its 
entire  width.  For  the  second  shot,  and  any  succeeding 
charges,  we  can  load  the  piece  with  stones I'm 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  205 

in  hopes  our  visitors  may  not  land,  but  we'll  keep  our 
fire  smoldering,  making  no  smoke;  and  I'll  fetch  all 
the  fruit  and  water  we  may  need  for  a  couple  of  days." 

Elaine  looked  up  at  him  quickly. 

"  A  couple  of  days  ?  We  may  have  to  fight  two 
days?" 

Grenville  smiled,  suggestively. 

"  Not  if  they  come  within  range  of  the  cannon  or 
linger  about  a  bomb.  In  time  of  peace  prepare  for  the 
worst — and  then  a  little  extra." 

He  moved  out  cautiously,  as  Elaine  had  done,  to 
scan  the  distant  sail.  He  could  see  that  it  was  steadily 
approaching.  With  eager  impatience  he  hastened  be 
low  to  lay  in  needful  provisions. 

Luncheon  was  forgotten.  When  a  large  supply  of 
fruits  and  water,  with  fuel  sufficient  for  perhaps  a  week 
of  flameless  fire,  had  been  stored  in  the  coolness  and 
protection  of  the  caves,  Grenville  immediately  set  to 
work  constructing  the  shells  to  fill  with  powder. 

This  was  a  task  involving  much  difficult  cutting. 
For  this  employment  his  tools  were  not  encouragingly 
suited.  Of  fuse,  Elaine  had  finally  produced  as  much 
as  all  his  bombs  would  require,  with  lengths  for  the  can 
non  as  well. 

The  gun  was  finally  charged  and  primed,  after  Gren 
ville  had  rebound  it  to  its  "  carriage."  It  was  lodged 
in  the  rocks,  where  it  covered  the  trail,  and  stones  were 
piled  abundantly  about  it.  A  fuse  was  laid  to  the 
vent. 

From  time  to  time  both  the  exiles  had  crept  towards 
the  one  lone  tree  on  the  wall,  to  observe  the  on-coming 
boat.  By  three  o'clock  of  the  afternoon  the  wind  had 
practically  failed,  but  the  craft  drifted  slowly  forward. 


206  AS  IT  WAS 

It  was  plainly  in  sight  by  then — a  fair-sized  affair  with 
a  singular  out-rigger  and  a  queer,  unmistakable  sail. 
So  far  as  Grenville  could  determine  at  the  distance, 
there  were  three  or  four  natives  aboard. 

"  If  none  of  them  ever  go  back  to  tell  the  tale,"  he 
announced,  a  bit  grimly  to  Elaine,  "  we  may  be  all  right 
for  quite  a  time." 

She  understood  at  once. 

"  You  think,  if  they  leave,  they  may  return  here 
later — with  a  larger  force — if  they  find  we  are  ready 
for  a  fight?  " 

"  If  they  do,  we'll  not  be  at  home — provided  the 
boat  can  be  finished." 

Elaine  was  evidently  thinking  much — of  the  battle 
that  might  presently  ensue,  with  all  its  unknown 
results. 

"  They'd  kill  us  if  they  could,  I  suppose,  if  only  to 

cut They  are  not  human  beings,  really — the  kind 

we  ought  not  to  shoot?  " 

Grenville  could  hardly  repress  a  smile. 

"  If  they  try  to  steal  the  gun,  I  think  we'd  be  justi 
fied  in  firing.  At  any  rate,  I  shall  fire  first  and  debate 
the  question  later." 

Elaine  was  growing  nervous,  now  that  all  they  could 
do  was  practically  accomplished. 

"  Oh,  I  wish  it  was  over !  "  she  declared.  "  Do  you 
think  they'll  attack  us  soon  after  landing?  " 

"  They  may  not  land  this  evening." 

Grenville  was  thinking  of  the  tidal  sounds  that 
haunted  the  island's  wall.  These  were  still  of  con 
siderable  volume  every  day,  and,  according  to  his 
theory,  frightened  the  ignorant  natives  away.  He 
added,  presently :  "  You  see,  they  may  be  aware  the 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  207 

tiger  was  living  here  before  we  disturbed  his  possession. 
In  that  event  they  might  be  cautious  of  landing  after 
dark.  They  rarely  take  chances,  I  believe,  by  attack 
ing  in  the  night." 

"  But  suppose  they  arrive  an  hour  or  two  before 
sunset?  " 

"  They  might,  if  the  breeze  should  freshen.  .  .  . 
We  can  only  wait  and  see." 

But  this  waiting  was  an  irritating  business,  so  slowly 
did  the  craft  appear  to  move  against  the  tide  and  so 
fraught  with  possibilities  was  its  visit  to  the  place. 

Sitting  or  stooping  behind  the  rocks,  Elaine  and 
Grenville  kept  a  constant  watchfulness  on  the  boat,  now 
less  than  half  a  mile  away.  It  was  apparently  be 
calmed.  The  day  grew  old  and  still  it  came  no  nearer. 

The  sun  at  length  departed  from  the  scene,  with  the 
riddle  still  unsolved.  It  appeared  to  Grenville  the  day- 
end  breath  would  have  wafted  the  stranger  to  the  shore. 
He  thought  perhaps  it  did  approach  considerably  closer, 
but  of  this  he  was  not  at  all  certain. 

The  brief,  soft  twilight  soon  began  to  wane.  At 
Sidney's  suggestion,  their  simple  repast  of  island  fruits 
was  eaten.  The  fish  they  had  captured  in  the  morning 
was  not  cooked,  in  the  absence  of  the  customary  fire. 
The  calm  that  settled  on  the  "  Isle  of  Shalimar  "  was 
far  from  being  reassuring.  It  seemed  fraught  with  silent 
agencies  of  fate,  moving  noiselessly  about  the  shadowed 
jungle. 

When  the  darkness  came  down,  the  mysterious  craft 
was  no  longer  to  be  seen.  Grenville  had  fancied  it 
drifting  rapidly  in  when  he  last  discerned  its  form. 
No  lights  were  displayed  upon  its  mast  or  deck  to  indi 
cate  its  presence  off  the  headland. 


208  AS  IT  WAS 

Elaine  was  persuaded  at  last  to  retire,  though  she 
knew  she  should  not  sleep.  Grenville  remained  on 
guard  alone,  pacing  back  and  forth  from  the  head  of 
the  trail  to  the  lone  tree  reared  above  the  cliff.  His 
senses  were  strained  to  catch  the  slightest  sound,  but 
none  came  upward  from  the  sea.  From  time  to  time 
he  halted  by  their  smoldering  bit  of  coals  to  assure 
himself  the  last  of  the  sparks  had  not  been  permitted 
to  die. 

At  length,  far  in  the  silent  night,  the  tidal  wailing 
began,  its  weirdness  increased  an  hundredfold  by  the 
tension  of  the  hours.  It  seemed  to  Grenville  unusually 
loud,  so  acute  had  the  darkness  made  his  hearing. 

No  sooner  had  the  final  note  died  out  on  the  gently 
stirring  air  than  answering  cries,  no  less  weird  and 
shrill,  arose  from  out  upon  the  water.  The  visiting 
craft  had  drifted  past  the  headland  and  was  somewhere 
off  on  Grenville's  right.  The  cries  from  its  deck  were 
like  a  response  to  some  spirit  of  the  island.  They  were 
rather  more  awed  than  exultant,  Grenville  felt,  and 
he  fancied  some  chanting,  that  came  to  him  brokenly 
out  of  the  heavy  shades  of  night,  was  possibly  a  prayer. 

When  he  came  before  her  shelter  again,  Elaine  was 
standing  in  the  door.  She  had  heard  the  cries  from 
the  boat. 

"  They  haven't  landed  yet?  "  she  said,  in  a  whisper. 

"  They  won't  land  now  till  daybreak,  and  perhaps 
not  then,"  he  answered.  "  Go  back — and  go  to  sleep." 

"  I'll  try,"  said  Elaine,  and  disappeared. 

For  Grenville,  however,  there  could  be  no  sleep, 
though  the  darkness  rendered  up  no  further  sound. 
Like  the  outer  sentry  of  a  picket-line,  with  the  enemy 
close,  and  his  whereabouts  unknown,  he  glided  silently 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  209 

from  one  dark  edge  of  the  terrace  to  another,  as  the 
hours  wore  on,  alert  for  the  slightest  alarm. 

He  finally  sat  by  the  head  of  the  trail,  convinced  that 
the  visitors  would  give  him  no  trouble  till  morning,  yet 
guarding  the  only  way  by  which  they  could  gain  the 
summit  of  the  hill. 

He  was  weary  and  doubtless  he  nodded,  lulled  by 
the  softness  of  the  breeze  that  came  up  at  last,  bur 
dened  with  its  ozone  from  the  sea.  And,  despite  the 
fact  he  was  afterwards  positive  the  nod  was  the  briefest 
in  the  world,  full  daylight  was  spread  to  the  ends  of 
the  world,  and  the  sun  was  gilding  the  island's  tufa 
walls,  when  at  length  he  started  to  his  feet. 

It  seemed  to  him  then  some  sound  from  below  had 
played  through  the  fabric  of  his  dream.  But  nothing 
disturbed  the  usual  calm,  save  the  morning  cry  of  dis 
tant  parrots.  Stooping,  he  moved  through  the  scat 
tered  rocks,  to  survey  the  waters  far  and  wide. 

There  was  nothing  to  be  seen,  in  all  that  expanse,  of 
the  craft  that  had  ridden  near  at  midnight.  All  the 
round  of  the  wall  he  made  in  this  manner  of  caution. 
When  he  came  at  length  above  the  blackened  clearing, 
where  for  day  after  day  he  had  toiled  with  fire  and 
chisel,  he  gazed  about  the  open  space  bewildered  and 
incredulous. 

His  half-finished  boat  was  gone! 


CHAPTER  XXVI 


AFTER    TO-MORROW- 


THE  truth  of  his  loss  was  hardly  to  be  credited  as 
Grenville  continued  to  stare  below  where  the  hollowed 
log  had  been. 

There  was  not  a  sign  of  a  living  thing  in  the  clear 
ing  or  near-by  jungle.  There  had  been  no  sounds  of 
unusual  movement  in  the  thicket,  he  was  sure,  or  other 
wise  he  must  have  wakened.  No  voices  had  spoken, 
since  his  ears  had  all  but  ached  to  catch  the  slightest 
disturbance. 

On  the  blue  of  the  sea,  so  tremendously  expanded 
from  this  particular  point  of  vantage,  there  was  not  a 
hint  of  a  sail.  But  the  fact  remained  his  boat  was 
gone,  with  all  the  work  it  represented,  and  all  the  hope 
their  situation  had  centered  upon  it  for  them  both. 

An  utter  sinking  of  the  heart  assailed  him.  His 
moment  of  sleep,  he  told  himself,  could-  have  been  no 
more  treacherous  had  it  been  planned  by  a  scheming 
enemy  to  complete  their  abandonment  to  some  rapidly 
impending  fate.  And  yet  had  he  waked  in  the  gray  of 
the  dawn,  with  his  bombs  and  fuses  still  too  damp  for 
employment,  and  his  cannon  planted  only  to  guard  the 
trail,  the  boat  could  hardly  have  been  saved.  At  most, 
his  protest  would  merely  have  betrayed  the  fact  he  was 
camped  there  on  the  terrace. 

A  new  line  of  thought  sprang  into  his  brain,  as  one 
210 


AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING       211 

suggestion  after  another  was  swiftly  deduced  from  his 
loss.  The  natives  who  had  landed  and  carried  off  his 
precious  craft  must  certainly  have  found  the  wall  with 
which  he  had  barred  the  trail.  He  could  hardly  doubt 
they  knew  of  his  presence  on  the  hill.  They  might  even 
now  be  lying  in  wait  to  get  him  the  moment  he  appeared. 

His  preconceived  theory,  that  they  dared  not  land 
while  those  tidal  sounds  still  haunted  this  end  of  the 
island,  received  a  shattering  blow.  Their  craft  was 
doubtless  hidden  now  behind  either  one  of  the  other 
lofty  walls  comprised  by  the  neighboring  hills.  The 
thieves  had  cut  off  all  possible  hope  of  his  escape  with 
Elaine  by  means  of  his  solid,  if  crude,  canoe,  and  could 
finally  starve  them  on  the  hill,  if  they  had  no  courage 
for  a  battle. 

Yet  how  had  they  happened  on  his  boat  and  why  had 
they  removed  it?  That  they  must  have  carried  it 
bodily  down  to  the  shore,  through  the  jungle,  was  abso 
lutely  certain.  And  this,  he  thought,  argued  a  half- 
dozen  men,  though  it  might  have  been  done  by 
four. 

He  remained  there,  stunned  by  this  utterly  defeating 
discovery,  watching  the  thicket  for  the  slightest  sign 
that  might  betray  the  presence  of  the  enemy  and  re 
volving  the  proposition  over  and  over  in  his  mind. 
When  at  last  he  admitted  that  the  natives  might  have 
known  the  log  was  lying  there,  if  they  had  not  indeed 
prepared  it  with  fire  for  some  of  their  uses  the  previous 
year,  he  was  more  than  verging  on  the  facts.  They 
had  felled  it  solely  for  a  boat — and  much  of  their  work 
he  had  completed. 

This  line  of  reasoning  did  not,  however,  serve  to 
quiet  further  questions.  The  visitors  must  certainly 


AS  IT  WAS 

have  wondered  how  it  came  about  that  the  log  was  so 
nearly  hollowed.  The  clay,  still  plastered  upon  it, 
must  have  suggested  to  their  minds  the  work  of  a  crafts 
man  minus  tools.  That  the  workman  must  be  present 
on  the  island  would  be  more  than  suspected,  since  his 
boat  was  not  even  launched. 

They  might  suppose  the  tiger  had  captured  and  de 
voured  him — always  admitting  they  knew  of  the  brute's 
former  presence  on  the  place.  It  seemed  far  more 
likely  to  Grenville  they  had  found  his  tracks  about 
the  spring,  his  gate  on  the  trail,  and  the  signs  of  his 
recent  fires  and  general  activity  about  the  region  of 
his  smelter,  and  would  therefore  conclude  he  was  still 
encamped  on  the  hill. 

He  could  fancy  a  half-dozen  pairs  of  maliciously 
glittering  eyes  fastened  even  now  upon  the  crest  and 
edges  of  the  terrace,  all  hidden  by  the  thickets.  Had 
the  poisoned  dart  from  a  blowpipe  come  winging  swiftly 
up  from  the  shadows  of  the  foliage,  he  should  not  have 
been  surprised. 

But  not  a  leaf  below  him  was  disturbed.  Not  a 
sound  arose  to  warn  his  eager  ears.  With  a  sense  of 
bitter  rage  and  humiliation  in  all  his  system,  he  finally 
crept  once  more  to  the  trail,  and  beyond  it  to  the  cliff's 
final  shelving. 

From  this  extremity  of  the  heights  new  aspects  of 
the  island  were  in  view,  as  well  as  different  expanses 
of  the  sea.  His  keen  eyes  searched  the  jungle  and  the 
clearings  first,  with  no  more  results  than  before. 

It  was  not  until  he  gazed  afar,  on  the  darkening 
silver  of  the  waters,  that  his  search  was  at  all  rewarded. 
Even  then,  for  a  moment  he  was  not  wholly  convinced 
that  what  he  saw  was  not  a  spearlike  leaf  of  foliage 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  213 

projected  beyond  the  clean-cut  edge  of  the  farthest  of 
the  island's  tufa  towers. 

But  the  angle  of  color  detached  itself  and  receded 
in  far  perspective.  It  was  plainly  the  sail  of  the  vis 
iting  craft,  previously  hidden  from  his  sight  by  the 
hill  at  the  island's  end.  It  was  already  far  on  a  north 
ern  course,  where  he  should  not  have  thought  to  find 
it.  The  freshening  breeze  was  heeling  it  over  grace 
fully  ;  it  would  vanish  in  less  than  half  an  hour. 

He  wondered  instantly — had  they  towed  away  his 
boat?  Or  might  they  have  left  it  moored  in  some  inlet 
of  the  island,  to  be  taken  upon  some  future  visit? 

Stifling  an  impulse  to  hasten  down  the  trail,  and 
aware  that  one,  or  even  more,  of  the  natives  might 
have  been  left  concealed  upon  the  place,  to  ambush 
himself  and  Elaine,  or  anyone  else  suspected  of  being 
present  on  the  rock,  he  remained  behind  his  barrier 
of  stones,  no  less  cautious  than  before. 

The  fact  that  the  entire  morning  passed  in  apparent 
security,  with  never  the  flicker  of  a  leaf  below  to  ad 
vertise  a  lurking  menace,  could  not  suffice  to  render 
Grenville  careless  or  overconfident.  He  had  told  Elaine 
of  their  loss — which  worried  her  less  than  himself.  To 
gether  they  maintained  an  all-day  vigilance,  half  ex 
pectant  of  the  sailing-craft's  return  and  keyed  to  the 
highest  tension  of  expectancy  at  every  stirring  of  a 
shrub  below  them  in  the  jungle. 

Grenville  finally  armed  himself  with  his  bow  and 
straightest  arrow,  to  descend  the  trail,  go  quietly  over 
to  the  spring,  and  then  to  the  spot  from  which  his 
boat  had  vanished.  About  the  pool  of  crystal  water 
there  was  not  so  much  as  a  track  of  human  boots  or 
feet,  other  than  his  own.  There  were  none  to  be  seen 


214  AS  IT  WAS 

about  the  foot  of  the  trail,  where  there  was  ample 
dust  in  which  they  might  have  been  recorded. 

Where  his  boat  had  lain,  with  its  end  on  a  rock, 
there  were  far  fewer  footprints  in  the  ash  and  soil 
than  Sidney  could  have  believed  possible,  judging  the 
visitors  at  only  four  in  number  and  their  task  not 
particularly  light.  Apparently,  however,  they  had 
landed  down  beyond  the  jungle,  proceeded  straight  to 
the  log,  and,  wasting  no  time  in  wondering  how  it 
chanced  to  be  covered  with  clay  or  hollowed  to  a  shell, 
had  taken  it  up,  to  depart  with  it  as  swiftly  and  di 
rectly  as  possible. 

Even  his  tools  still  lay  beside  the  hollow  tree  utilized 
for  a  smelter.  The  one  explanation  that  addressed 
itself  to  his  mind  as  being  plausible  was  that  the  vis 
itors,  iTnowing  of  the  log  and  having  planned  to  secure 
it,  perhaps  in  merely  passing  by  the  island,  had  come 
ashore  so  soon  as  the  first  faint  gray  of  dawn  broke 
the  shadows  of  the  jungle,  when  they  had  taken  their 
prize  and  halted  for  nothing,  not  even  a  search  for 
whatsoever  tools  they  must  have  seen  had  been 
employed. 

Once  more  his  original  theory  of  their  superstitious 
fright  of  the  island's  "  haunt "  seemed  to  Grenville 
to  be  confirmed.  He  felt  the  natives  had  sneaked 
ashore — not  in  fear  of  himself,  since  they  could  not 
have  foreknown  his  presence  on  the  hill,  but  in  possible 
fear  of  some  spirit  of  the  place  whose  wailing  filled 
them  with  dread. 

Barely  less  cautiously  than  heretofore,  he  followed 
the  faintly  imprinted  trail  of  the  boat's  mysterious  ab 
ductors,  where  it  led  across  the  clearing.  He  was  cer 
tain  now  that  a  cleared  path  did  exist  where  he  had 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  215 

partially  explored  the  previous  morning.  But 
branches  and  shrubbery  had  been  freshly  cut,  as  if 
to  insure  the  silent  passage  of  the  log. 

The  lane  thus  created  through  the  thicket  led  di 
rectly  down  an  easy  slope  to  a  broken  bit  of  seawall 
at  the  bottom.  This,  at  high  tide,  would  be  scarcely 
a  foot  above  the  water.  Here  the  log  had  undoubtedly 
been  rested.  Both  broken  clay  and  a  charcoal  smudge 
recorded  the  unseen  fact. 

The  entire  inlet  was  no  more  than  twenty  feet  across. 
It  was  bounded  on  either  side  by  pitted  walls  that  per 
mitted  no  access  to  the  jungle.  The  last  faint  hope  of 
again  beholding  his  precious  boat  now  vanished  from 
Grenville's  mind.  It  had  not  been  moored,  nor  probably 
even  towed,  but  doubtless  loaded  bodily  on  the  visitor's 
deck,  to  be  taken  to  parts  unknown. 

But,  if  this  heavy  fact  sunk  home  in  his  breast,  the 
man  was  somewhat  relieved,  at  least,  concerning  a  prob 
able  native  left  behind.  He  felt  practically  certain 
that  none  of  the  crew  of  the  native  craft  had  stepped 
beyond  his  clearing.  How  much  they  might  guess  as  to 
who  had  hollowed  the  heavy  log  was  another  matter 
altogether.  He  knew  that  their  tale  would  be  widely 
told — and  felt  that  developments  would  follow. 

He  went  to  Elaine,  to  whom  he  owed  a  report. 

"  I  think  we're  alone  on  the  place,"  he  said,  and 
related  all  he  had  discovered.  "  We  may  as  well  re 
light  our  fires,"  he  added,  in  conclusion,  "  and  eat  the 
best  our  sunny  possessions  afford." 

Elaine  could  not  so  promptly  recover  from  all  she 
had  undergone.  She  still  sat  staring  at  his  face,  a 
prey  to  confused  emotions. 


216  AS  IT  WAS 

"  Suppose  they  had  really  been  friendly,  after  all— 
and  we  let  them  go  and  leave  us  here  like  that?  " 

"  In  that  event  they  may  return,  since  the  boat 
will  excite  a  bit  of  wonder." 

"  You  mean  they  will  know,  of  course,  that  someone 
must  be  here  who  made  it?" 

"  It  certainly  tells  that  story  rather  plainly." 

She  was  thinking  rapidly. 

"  Then — if  they  shouldn't  happen  to  be  friendly, 
they  would  know  it  all  just  the  same — and  may  still 
come  back  to — look  us  up?  " 

Grenville  nodded. 

"  I  shall  certainly  go  to  work  with  that  chance  in 
view." 

"  Yes,"  she  agreed,  "  we'll  certainly  do  all  we  can. 
But  another  boat  would  take  you  weeks !  After  all 
your  patient,  tedious  work — to  have  it  stolen  like 
that !  Oh,  I  could  cry,  if  I  weren't  so  vexed  and  sorry !  " 

Grenville  smiled  despite  his  sense  of  loss. 

"  Perhaps  I  can  rig  some  sort  of  a  catamaran,"  he 
answered.  "  But  for  day  and  night  sailing,  such  as 
we  would  doubtless  have  before  us,  the  best  of  boats 
would  be  none  too  comfortable." 

"  And  we  don't  know  where  to  sail." 

"  Well — not  precisely." 

"  Then— what  is  the  first  thing  to  do?  " 

"  Cook  and  devour  a  hearty  dinner." 

"But  after  that — to-morrow?" 

"  Thank  God  for  peace — and  prepare  for  war,  mean 
while  praying  it  may  not  come." 

Elaine  was  grave,  but  her  voice  was  clear  and  steady. 

"  You  think  it  will — that  a  fight  will  come?  .  t..  ... 
I'd  much  rather  know  the  worst." 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  217 

"So  would  I!"  said  Grenvillc,  cheerfully.  "We 
can't.  We  can  only  get  ready  to  acquit  ourselves 
like — well,  like  gentlemen,  and  keep  out  an  eye  for  a 
steamer.  .  .  .  Would  you  mind  retreating  to  the  cave 
I  found,  if  dire  necessity  arose?" 

"  I'll  go  wherever  you  tell  me,"  she  answered,  with 
a  smile  that  went  to  his  heart.  "  But  of  course  I  can't 
help  wishing  that  a  steamer  would  really  come." 


CHAPTER  XXVII 

A    FATEFUL    EXPLOSION 

WITH  feverish  energy  Grenville  was  at  work,  at 
tempting  to  achieve  a  dozen  ends  at  once. 

Nearly  a  week  of  high-pressure  application  appeared 
to  have  accomplished  so  little.  Yet  a  hundred  pounds 
at  least  of  his  liveliest  powder  had  been  mixed  and  stored 
away,  either  loosely  or  packed  in  the  bamboo  bombs, 
of  which  he  had  a  dozen ;  much  extra  bamboo  had  been 
cut  and  brought  to  the  terrace;  a  new  lot  of  jugs  had 
been  molded  of  clay  and  were  finally  being  fired  in  his 
former  smelter;  baskets  were  made  and  ready  for 
fruits,  should  retreat  to  the  cave  be  rendered  expedi 
ent,  and  his  first  small  raft,  or  catamaran,  for  gaining 
the  exit  to  the  cavern,  was  all  but  ready  to  launch. 

He  had  taken  the  bowsprit  of  the  barque  and  three 
large  stems  from  the  bamboo  growth  as  a  basis  for  this 
craft.  The  bamboo  stems  were  firmly  lashed  together, 
to  act  as  a  mate  for  the  bowsprit.  They  were  held 
away  from  the  latter  at  a  distance  of  about  three  feet 
by  some  of  the  few  unrotted  bits  of  board  he  had  torn 
from  the  old  vessel's  cabin,  plus  more  bamboo,  split  and 
employed  for  his  platform. 

Two  half-cylindrical  sections  of  this  useful  plant  he 
had  lashed  to  eight-foot  poles  of  considerable  stiffness 
to  complete  a  pair  of  oars.  His  rowlocks,  saved  from 
the  smelting  processes,  he  finally  tested  in  their  sock- 

218 


AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING       219 

ets,  where  a  rigid  bridge  had  been  stoutly  secured 
across  his  raftlike  contrivance,  and  found  them  all  he 
could  desire.  The  seat  he  had  planned  to  occupy  in 
rowing  he  abandoned  now  as  quite  superfluous. 

He  felt  he  must  lose  no  time  in  draining  the  cave, 
for  possible  use  in  a  siege.  There  was  no  other  task 
that  had  been  altogether  neglected.  The  flagpole  was 
once  more  standing  on  the  terrace;  abundant  fuse  was 
made,  dried,  coiled,  and  safely  stored  from  damp  or 
accident,  and  a  mold  was  hardening  in  the  fire  for  run 
ning  lead  slugs  that  would  make  the  cannon  effective. 

For  this  latter  need  he  meant  to  sacrifice  his  ham 
mer.  It,  with  the  lead  he  had  saved  before,  would  sup 
ply  some  six  or  seven  pounds  of  this  needful  ammunition. 

Now,  as  he  swiftly  braided  three  slender  creepers  in 
a  "  painter  "  for  his  crudely  fashioned  catamaran,  he 
glanced  at  the  tide  inquiringly,  and  likewise  up  at 
the  sun.  There  was  over  an  hour  in  which  to  get  to 
the  cave,  lodge  a  bomb  in  the  ledge,  and  blow  out  the 
dam  that  held  back  the  water,  but  the  tide  was  still 
running  against  him. 

With  ten  feet  only  of  his  mooring-line  completed,  he 
abandoned  the  braiding  impatiently,  secured  one  end 
to  his  raft  at  the  estuary's  entrance,  and,  wading  in 
behind  the  clumsy  structure,  launched  it  with  one  im 
petuous  heave  across  the  sandbar  to  the  sea.  Board 
ing  immediately  with  his  oars,  he  rowed  it  far  enough 
only  to  prove  he  could  drive  it  against  the  tide,  and 
then  brought  it  back  to  the  shore. 

"  One  bomb  and  a  torch,"  he  meditated,  aloud.  "  I 
can  hang  the  bomb  across  my  shoulder  to  keep  it  out 
of  the  wet." 

The  catamaran  having  been  made  thoroughly  secure, 


220  AS  IT  WAS 

he  hastened  away  to  the  terrace.  He  missed  Elaine. 
She  was  down  at  the  "  smelter,"  attending  the  fire  that 
was  roasting  the  new  clay  vessels. 

With  a  bomb  and  his  lighted  torch  in  hand — held 
well  apart  and  not  for  a  moment  handled  carelessly— 
he  hailed  Elaine  from  the  edge  of  the  thicket  by  the 
wall. 

"  Just  thought  I'd  drop  around  and  drain  out  that 
water  from  the  cave,"  he  announced.  "  Everything's 
ready — and  I've  nothing  else  to  do.  When  you  hear 
the  salute,  you'll  know  it's  a  commonplace  affair." 

"  Oh !  "  said  Elaine,  who  had  her  doubts  concern 
ing  his  various  explosions.  "  I'll  watch  to  see  you  from 
the  cliff." 

"  Well — er — I  wouldn't  stand  just  at  the  edge,  you 
know — not  till  you  know  it's  all  over." 

"You're  not  going  to  blow  down  the  hill?" 

"  Hope  not.  I've  taken  a  baby  bomb,  but  I  didn't 
wish  to  let  it  off  till  I'd  told  you  what  to  expect.  I'd 
keep  away,  in  case  of  flying  pieces." 

"  I  will,"  said  Elaine.  "  But  I'll  go  up  now,  and 
perhaps  you  can  call  to  let  me  know  how  well  you  have 
succeeded." 

"  I'll  send  you  a  wireless." 

Grenville  hastened  to  his  raft.  "  Please  God  she  may 
never  have  to  hear  me  fire  another !  "  he  thought,  as 
he  went,  reflecting  on  things  that  might  happen.  He 
could  not  have  known  that  only  a  mild  beginning  had 
been  made  on  their  programme  as  scheduled  by  the 
Fates. 

He  was  soon  rowing  eagerly  and  vigorously  against 
the  current  of  the  tide,  which  would  run  with  lessening 
velocity  for  perhaps  another  hour.  When  he  came  to 


IN  THE  BEGINNING 

the  cave,  he  promptly  discovered  why  the  injunction 
to  enter  its  mouth  at  high  water  only  had  been  made 
a  point  in  the  mystic  directions  found  with  the  map 
in  the  tube. 

The  ledge  whereon  he  had  landed  before  was  deeply 
undercut.  During  a  tide  no  more  than  two  or  three 
feet  lower  than  this  tnat  would  serve  him  to-day,  the 
place  could  scarcely  be  approached,  and  could  never 
be  entered  at  all.  The  swirl,  which  was  rarely  ever 
absent  from  the  place,  increased  in  violence  steadily 
with  the  lowering  levels  of  the  water. 

It  was  not  without  some  chance  of  catastrophe  that 
he  presently  landed  on  the  shelf.  He  lost  little  time 
in  securing  his  painter  to  the  rocks,  the  line  so  ad 
justed  he  could  readily  slip  it  from  the  crevice  should 
a  hasty  retreat  seem  wise. 

The  task  of  blasting  out  the  ledge  was  not  a  sim 
ple  matter.  To  lodge  the  bomb  where  its  energy  would 
be  directed  almost  wholly  against  the  dam,  or  rock, 
and  yet  protect  it  from  the  trickling  stream  that  could 
readily  render  it  useless,  involved  an  extra  toil  of 
piling  rocks,  on  which  he  had  not  reckoned. 

Fortunately,  much  of  the  thickest  wall  was  opposed 
to  the  pot-hole  in  the  dam,  while  one  or  two  extra-heavy 
fragments  from  the  cliff  were  so  lightly  poised  he  could 
drop  them  in  the  breach.  Despite  these  natural  advan 
tages,  however,  he  labored  hotly  for  fully  half  an  hour 
before  he  could  even  lay  his  fuse. 

Meantime,  his  torch  was  blazing  smokily,  against  his 
final  need  of  igniting  the  match  and  later  exploring  for 
results.  At  length  he  looped  the  fuse  along  a  ragged 
line  of  broken  honeycomb,  where  pits  had  been  eaten 
in  the  tufa,  and  trailed  it  well  down  to  the  brink  of 


222  AS  IT  WAS 

the  ledge,  with  its  end  propped  high  between  two 
bowlders. 

With  one  last  look  at  all  his  careful  arrangements, 
he  slipped  off  his  raft-line,  caught  up  his  torch,  and  was 
stepping  down  to  board  his  float  when  a  sharp  piece 
of  rock  broke  away  beneath  his  foot  and  dropped  him 
forward  on  his  hand. 

The  torch  was  flung  against  the  fuse,  where  it  lay 
along  the  slope.  He  heard  it  hiss,  whert  the  powder 
had  caught,  and  aware  that,  by  three  or  four  feet,  it 
was  shorter  now  than  he  had  ever  intended  to  light  it, 
he  lurched  full-length  upon  his  raft  and  fumbled  to 
clutch  up  the  oars. 

But  the  swirl  was  on,  and  the  catamaran  seemed  pos 
sessed  to  bump  against  the  ledge. 

In  a  final  desperate  outburst  of  strength,  he  sent 
the  thing  shooting  outward.  Its  bow  would  have  turned 
in  the  whirlpool  then,  but  he  drove  it  clear  of  the 
point. 

Like  a  madman  he  pulled  at  the  clumsy  oars,  to  reach 
the  protection  where  the  wall  all  but  folded  the  basin 
from  the  sea. 

His  raft  was  around  it — half  of  the  raft — and  an 
other  good  foot  would  have  covered  himself,  when  the 
blast  abruptly  boomed. 

Even  out  of  the  tail  of  his  eye  he  saw  the  dull-red 
flare  behind  a  blot  that  represented  ragged  rock  in 
motion. 

A  fragment  no  larger  than  a  man's  two  fists  came  as 
straight  as  a  cannon  projectile  and  struck  the  pitted 
wall  beside  his  head. 

He  had  ducked  instinctively  forward,  which  doubt 
less  saved  his  life.  But  dozens  of  smaller  and  barely 


IN  THE  BEGINNING 

less  violent  fragments  were  broken  away  from  the  edge 
of  the  wall  by  the  piece  with  the  meteoric  speed.  One 
of  these  struck  him  above  the  ear — and  down  he  went, 
face  forward,  on  the  platform,  to  hang  with  arms  and 
shoulders  loosely  supported  on  the  bridge  that  was 
used  for  the  sockets  of  his  rowlocks. 

A  rain  of  loose  pieces  hissed  about  in  the  sea.  The 
cave  belched  smoke  like  a  suddenly  active  volcano.  The 
tide  took  the  raft,  with  its  motionless  burden,  and  floated 
it  back  whence  the  man  had  come,  but  not  so  close  in 
the  shore. 

Then  up  on  the  cliff,  when  the  shock  and  hail  had 
subsided  from  all  the  air  about  her,  Elaine  came  in 
quiringly  over  to  the  brink,  to  receive  some  word  that 
all  was  well. 

The  smoke  still  rose  from  down  below  and  obscured 
the  face  of  the  waters.  There  was  nothing  Elaine  could 
discover.  She  waited  a  time  that  seemed  very  long,  in 
her  usual  determination  not  to  seem  unduly  alarmed  or 
importunate  concerning  Sidney's  safety. 

But  at  last  she  called  his  name. 

There  was  no  response.  Her  uneasiness  increased. 
She  called  again,  and  moved  along  the  brink,  staring 
eagerly  down  at  the  sea. 

Then  at  last  a  sound  like  a  stifled  moan  escaped  her 
whitened  lips.  She  had  seen  that  prostrate,  helpless 
figure  drifting  down  by  the  shore  on  his  raft. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 

WHAT    THE    BLAST    DISCOVERED 

GRENVILL.E  revived,  with  his  characteristic  perti 
nacity.  An  impulse  to  save  himself  was  still  alive  in 
his  brain.  Actuated  by  its  survival,  he  struggled  gal- 
vanically  to  rise. 

"  Oh,  please !  "  said  a  voice,  that  sounded  remarkably 
familiar.  "  Please  try  to  keep  quiet  for  a  little !  " 

Yet  he  had  to  sit  up,  with  one  hand  to  support  him, 
if  nothing  more. 

He  was  still  on  the  raft,  and  there  was  Elaine,  on  her 
knees,  pulling  hard  at  his  oars  to  drive  the  float  ashore. 
She  was  dripping  wet  from  head  to  foot. 

For  a  moment  Grenville  regarded  her  blankly,  while 
the  situation  cleared  in  his  brain. 

"  What  ho,  skipper !  "  he  said,  a  bit  faintly.  "  You 
didn't  swim  out  to  this  contraption?  " 

"  You  are  bleeding,"  she  answered,  tugging  no  less 
stoutly  at  the  oars.  "  I  thought  you  might  be  dead. 
The  tide  was  floating  you  away — and  I  don't  see 
why —  Won't  you  please  sit  still  and  behave?  " 

Grenville  had  felt  of  his  head,  then  arisen  to  take 
the  sweeps  from  her  hands,  though  the  catamaran  was 
about  to  ground  on  the  beach. 

"  You  did  swim !  "  he  said.  "  I  should  have  warned 
you  of  the  sh —  I'm  an  idiot! — trying  to  blow  my 
head  off !  "  He  knelt  on  the  edge  of  the  platform  and 
began  to  bathe  his  scalp. 

224 


AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING       225 

"  I  hate  that  cave !  "  Elaine  declared,  with  emphasis. 
"  And  I  hate  those  awful  bombs !  I  sha'n't  have  any 
clothing  left,  if  you  go  on  killing  yourself  like  this 
every  day !  "  She  was  tearing  another  bandage  from 
her  petticoat  and  felt  obliged  to  scold. 

Grenville  was  not  at  all  certain  it  would  not  be  de 
cidedly  pleasant  to  be  wounded  constantly.  It  was 
perilously  joyous  to  be  scolded  and  bandaged  by  Elaine. 
He  certainly  submitted  most  meekly  as  she  now  tied 
up  his  head.  He  was  not  deeply  cut,  and  felt  con 
siderably  aggrieved  that  the  blow  had  rendered  him 
unconscious. 

"  You'll  find  the  skull  isn't  dented,"  he  observed, 
"  unless  it's  from  the  inside  out." 

"  There's  a  great  big  swelling,"  said  Elaine.  "  And 
suppose  you  had  been  killed  ?  " 

Grenville  made  no  immediate  reply.  He  was  gazing 
abstractedly  out  across  the  water.  His  inner  vision 
conjured  up  the  picture  of  a  brave,  unselfish  little  com 
rade,  swimming  fearlessly  out  to  board  a  raft  whereon 
a  helpless  figure  was  lying — a  pale-faced  girl  who 
would  doubtless  have  had  no  hesitation  had  she  known 
of  all  the  sharks  in  the  world.  He  could  see  her  scram 
ble  on  the  float  to  ease  him  where  he  lay.  And  then 
her  hot  tussle  with  the  clumsy  oars,  as  she  knelt  on 
the  wave-slopped  platform,  to  urge  it  and  him  to  the 
shore ! 

"  I'm  a  thoughtless  brute,"  he  told  her,  finally.  "  But 
I  felt  the  work  was  important." 

"  It  is  important !  I'm  sure  of  that,"  she  answered, 
at  once  all  contrition.  "  But  perhaps  next  time — you 
might  take  me  along —  If  anything  should  kill  us 
both — why,  that  would  be  simple  and  easy." 


226  AS  IT  WAS 

He  understood  her  thoroughly. 

"  Quite  an  idea,"  he  answered,  briefly.  "  I  was  sure 

you  understood  the  situation To-morrow  I'll  go 

and  see  what  the  blast  accomplished.  I  shall  have  no 
more  explosions,  however — so  I  may  not  need  a 
chaperon." 

She  was  slightly  hurt.  His  offhand  speeches  were 
not  always  absolutely  welcome,  despite  her  former  atti 
tude  and  declarations.  After  all,  it  was  God,  she  told 
herself,  who  had  brought  this  partnership  into  being. 
It  was  He  who  had  cast  her  into  exile  with  the  bravest 
man  she  had  ever  known. 

"  You  mean,"  she  said,  "  you  do  not  want  me 
along." 

"It's  the  tide  that's  ungallant,"  he  said.  "It  ob 
jects  to  anyone's  landing  on  the  ledge." 

"  But  you  said  I  might  be  obliged  to  hide  there 
later." 

"  I  did,  and  till  then — let's  enjoy  the  sunshine — while 
it  lasts." 

Elaine  said  no  more.  The  hint  of  inimical  things 
to  come  sufficed  once  more  to  carry  her  thoughts  away 
from  all  personal  emotions. 

They  returned  in  silence  to  the  terrace,  Grenville 
first  having  urged  his  catamaran  within  the  estuary, 
to  secure  it  with  the  line.  The  commonplace  duties  of 
their  daily  existence  were  promptly  resumed,  and  the 
cave  as  a  topic  was  forgotten. 

The  following  day,  while  he  waited  for  the  tide  to 
rise  to  its  highest  level,  Grenville  completed  the  labor 
at  the  furnace,  where  additional  vessels  for  water  were 
being  permitted  to  cool.  The  importance  of  being  en 
abled  to  store  an  unusual  quantity  of  water,  should  the 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  227 

need  arise  for  such  a  storage,  had  early  been  presented 
to  his  mind.  He  was  therefore  particularly  gratified 
to  find  this  present  firing  of  jugs  considerably  more 
successful  than  the  first. 

Elaine  was  engaged  in  weaving  two  nets,  in  which 
these  clay  vessels  could  be  carried.  With  a  yoke  for 
Grenville's  shoulders,  or  even  for  her  own,  a  pair  of 
the  jugs  could  thus  be  fetched  at  once  and  the  labor 
thereby  materially  hastened,  should  a  moment  arrive 
in  which  such  haste  would  be  wise. 

It  was  ever  disturbing  to  her  mind  to  reflect  on  this 
possible  need.  The  thought  was  never  wholly  absent 
from  her  as  she  watched  the  horizon,  far  and 
near,  for  the  steamer  that  did  not  come.  Not  even 
in  her  happiest  moments — and  many  were  happy,  she 
confessed,  despite  all  the  hardships  of  their  daily  life, 
as  they  two  toiled  together,  an  exiled  pair  alone  in  this 
tropical  garden — not  even  in  these  was  that  sinister, 
underlying  motif  too  indistinct  to  be  acknowledged. 
It  hung  like  a  thing  in  vague  suspense  above  their 
every  occupation,  throughout  the  day  and  night. 

A  tremor  more  tangible  played  through  her  breast 
as  Elaine  watched  Grenville  take  a  torch  as  before  and 
depart  for  the  third  of  his  visits  to  the  cave. 

Without  consulting  the  lord  and  master  of  the  island, 
she  moved  her  work  from  the  shelter  of  her  "  house  " 
to  the  cliff-edge,  from  which  she  could  watch  him  a 
time  before  he  should  come  to  the  cavern  itself  and  so 
be  lost  to  sight. 

She  was  thus  enabled,  unobserved,  to  inspect  him,  to 
her  heart's  content,  as  Grenville  came  rowing  his  raft 
along  the  tide,  far  down  below  her  rocky  eerie. 

The  man  was  absorbed  in  the  task  thus  set  to  be  ac- 


AS  IT  WAS 

cornplished.  He  did  not  look  up,  as  Elaine  thought  he 
might,  as  he  skimmed  along  under  the  wall. 

When  he  came  to  the  cave  he  was  somewhat  surprised 
at  the  wreckage  his  blast  had  accomplished.  Not  only 
was  the  former  ledge  completely  shattered,  but  much 
had  fallen  below  in  the  sea,  while  the  wall  to  the  right, 
where  the  bomb  had  expended  its  energy,  was  agape 
with  new-formed  fissures. 

Chiefly  concerned  with  the  dam  of  rock,  Grenville  se 
cured  his  raft  with  boyish  impatience  and  carried  his 
torch  ashore.  A  moment  afterwards  he  walked  through 
the  breach  in  the  erstwhile  solid  ledge,  and  could  readily 
imagine  the  roar  with  which  the  water,  formerly  behind 
the  barrier,  had  tumbled  torrentially  into  the  swirling 
tide. 

There  was  still  a  tiny  trickle  flowing  down  the  chan 
nel  made  by  the  bomb.  The  basin  formed  by  the  bot 
tom  of  the  cavern  was  still  exceedingly  damp,  and  here 
and  there  it  retained  a  shallow  pool  of  water  too  low 
for  the  gateway  to  drain.  He  walked  about  freely, 
pausing  here  and  there  to  hold  his  torch  aloft  and 
measure  the  cave's  dimensions  by  means  of  the  light 
from  both  the  open  entrance  and  his  blazing,  yellow 
flame. 

He  was  struck,  in  gazing  at  the  wall  he  had  broken 
near  the  cavern's  mouth,  with  the  size  of  one  of  the 
fissures  there,  where  the  blast  had  wrought  its  havoc. 
So  black  and  significant  appeared  this  new-formed 
aperture  that,  although  a  certain  eagerness  to  proceed 
forthwith  to  the  treasure  niche  was  upon  him,  he  re 
turned  at  once  to  investigate  the  hole. 

What  he  found  upon  his  first  superficial  examination 
was  merely  a  crevice,  half  as  wide  as  his  body,  where 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  229 

a  plinth  of  rock  had  been  split  from  the  mass  and 
dropped  towards  the  breach  in  the  dam.  Into  this 
crevice  he  thrust  his  torch,  and  was  instantly  interested 
to  note  that  its  flame  blew  decidedly  from  him,  in  a 
draught  of  air  that  was  flowing  unmistakably  upward. 
Moreover,  on  lifting  himself  sufficiently  high  to  look 
about  in  the  dimly  lighted  space,  he  became  convinced 
that  either  a  second  chamber  or  a  passage  like  a  hall 
existed  just  back  of  the  principal  cavern,  from  which 
it  was  partitioned  by  the  wall. 

He  planted  his  torch  between  some  loosened  frag 
ments  and  shook  at  the  piece  that  blocked  this  aux 
iliary  cave.  He  thought  he  could  topple  the  slab  out 
forwards  on  the  ledge.  But,  when  he  rocked  it  with 
his  customary  vigor,  it  fell  abruptly  backwards  and 
disappeared  in  the  gloom. 

The  hole  he  had  thus  created  was  quite  large  enough 
to  admit  him,  squeezing  in  sideways.  He  promptly 
entered  with  his  torch,  finding  the  foothold  rough  and 
insecure.  The  chamber  itself  was  small  and  low.  He 
could  readily  touch  the  ceiling. 

Ahead  it  apparently  ended  in  a  wall,  with  a  gaping 
crack.  On  moving  there,  however,  he  found,  to  his 
surprise,  an  angular  turn,  still  wide  enough  to  admit 
of  easy  passage.  The  way  under  foot  was  slightly 
upward.  It  was  pitted  rock,  but  surprisingly  free  from 
broken  fragments. 

Persuaded  at  once  that  no  other  man  had  ever  dis 
covered  this  channel-like  chamber  in  the  tufa,  and  that 
therefore  no  treasure  would  be  found  concealed  in  its 
depths,  Grenville  continued  onward  with  unabated  in 
terest,  curious  to  see  how  far  the  passage  might  extend. 

It   narrowed   again,   and    pierced   decidedly   upward 


230  AS  IT  WAS 

through  the  bulk  of  the  huge  rock  mass.  Obliged  at 
last  t->  stoop  too  low  for  comfort,  Grenville  began  to 
wonder  if  the  thing  would  never  end.  It  appeared  to 
be  exceptionally  straight  for  a  natural  tunnel  in  vol 
canic  rock,  but  Sidney  began  to  realize  its  upward 
incline  had  rapidly  increased. 

When  he  presently  found  himself  enabled  to  stand 
once  more  erect,  he  paused  to  cast  a  light  on  the  walls  to 
confirm  a  new  thought  in  his  mind.  He  had  finally 
remembered  a  feature  long  before  noted  on  top  of  the 
terrace  itself — the  long  straight  crack  through  the 
massive  tower  of  tufa  and  the  "  slip  "  that  had  once 
formed  a  shelf. 

Not  without  a  certain  sort  of  excited  hope  did  he 
now  discover  unmistakable  signs  that  some  convulsion 
of  the  island  had  at  one  time  actually  parted  the  right- 
hand  mass  of  rock  from  the  larger  portion  on  the  left 
and  permitted  the  former  to  drop.  If  this  channel 
could  only  continue — 

He  went  upward  again,  more  swiftly,  wondering  thus 
belatedly  how  far  he  might  have  come  and  regret 
ting  he  had  not  thought  to  pace  the  distance.  Through 
a  place  ahead  he  was  barely  able  to  force  his  supple 
body.  Then  came  another  passageway  that  was  not 
only  narrow  but  low.  Fragments  of  stone  were  like 
wise  under  foot,  and  the  passage  formed  another  angle. 

Beyond  this  turn  he  found  himself  confronted  by 
more  broken  stone  and  a  difficult  ascent.  But,  toiling 
up  there  eagerly,  he  presently  raised  his  eyes  and  be 
held  a  bright  white  line,  as  narrow  as  a  streak  of 
lightning. 

It  was  simply  a  crack  through  a  shattered  bit  of 
wall  that  closed  up  the  end  of  the  passage.  It  was 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  231 

daylight — sky — that  he  saw  thus  slenderly  defined,  and 
the  man  could  have  shouted  in  joy! 

He  could  not,  however,  escape  to  the  outside  world 
when  he  presently  came  to  the  wall.  For  all  the  frag 
ments  he  loosened  and  threw  back  behind  him,  he  could 
not  open  the  exit,  or  even  determine  where  it  was.  Only 
work  outside  could  accomplish  this  end,  and  this  he 
was  wild  to  begin. 

About  to  turn  back  and  hasten  to  the  terrace,  he 
realized  instantly  how  utterly  impossible  might  be  the 
task  of  finding  the  place  from  without.  But  Elaine 
was  doubtless  on  the  terrace.  If  only  his  voice  could 
be  carried  to  her  ears,  she  could  mark  the  spot  at 
once. 

But,  although  he  called  with  all  his  lusty  might,  there 
was  no  response  from  the  camp  where  Elaine  was  doubt 
less  working.  His  torch  was  burning  low,  with  the 
draught  fanning  constantly  past  him  through  the  chan 
nel.  It  occurred  to  his  mind  to  go  back  to  Elaine  and 
instruct  her  how  she  could  assist  him.  He  also  thought 
to  place  his  torch  against  the  crack  and  permit  its 
smoke  to  filter  through  and  perhaps  thereby  blacken  the 
fissure. 

Until  he  felt  he  must  save  what  remained,  to  illumine 
his  way  downward,  he  burned  the  torch  close  to  the 
rocks.  And  thus,  when  he  came  to  the  larger  cave 
again,  he  was  once  more  obliged  to  depart  with  not 
even  a  sight  of  the  treasure. 


CHAPTER  XXIX 

AN    INTERRUPTED    DIVERSION 

NOT  only  had  Grenville  to  a  small  extent  succeeded 
in  smudging  the  outside  terminal  of  the  passage  dis 
covered  through  the  rock,  but  also  Elaine  had  discov 
ered  the  smoke  so  strangely  ascending  in  the  air. 

She  had  been  thoroughly  mystified  by  the  singular 
sight,  but  had  crept  about  the  place  inquiringly,  ex 
pecting  perhaps  a  volcano  to  begin  some  destructive 
demonstration.  She  had  likewise  fancied  that  rumbling 
sounds  proceeded  from  somewhere  in  the  "  mountain." 
The  entire  phenomenon  had  finally  ceased,  however, 
greatly  to  her  relief. 

On  a  narrow  ledge,  some  four  feet  down  from  the 
terrace-level,  and  directly  beneath  the  extensive  crack 
that  had  once  been  formed  in  the  massive  upheaval  of 
tufa,  the  broken  fragments  that  blocked  the  subter 
ranean  hallway  were  wedged  to  their  places  in  the 
wall.  The  place  was  sunk  in  a  shallow  niche  that  was 
screened  by  the  trees  of  the  jungle. 

This  ledge  Grenville  not  only  promptly  rendered  ac 
cessible,  but,  after  the  opening  had  once  been  cleared, 
he  fashioned  a  door  of  the  lightest  construction,  that 
still  resembled  solid  rock,  with  which  to  conceal  it 
again. 

His  door  was  of  wattle,  plastered  with  clay,  which 
he  then  thrust  full  of  tufa  fragments.  These,  when 

232 


AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING       233 

the  substance  presently  hardened,  were  found  to  be 
substantially  cemented  to  the  framework.  The  clay 
itself  dried  yellowish  gray  and  could  hardly  be  dis 
tinguished  from  the  rock.  He  was  thus  enabled  io 
plaster  over  all  the  chinks  and  other  ragged  openings 
which  the  door  could  not  completely  cover.  When  the 
job  was  done,  not  the  faintest  suspicion  of  anything 
unusual  about  the  niche  could  the  keenest  eye  have  dis 
covered.  Grenville  was  none  the  less  glad,  however, 
that  the  tallest  foliage  of  the  near-by  growth  still 
further  concealed  the  spot. 

He  was  toiling  no  less  feverishly  than  before,  thank 
ful  each  day  that  the  tidal  wailing  still  continued  and 
anxiously  watching  the  round  of  the  purple  horizon 
for  the  cut  of  a  rakish  sail. 

Despite  the  fact  that  several  days  had  passed  since 
the  passage  was  discovered,  he  had  made  no  effort  to 
return  to  the  treasure  crypt  below.  The  communicating 
gallery  was  too  important  to  be  neglected.  He  had 
spent  long  hours  in  its  upper  reaches,  clearing  the 
rock  from  underfoot,  to  make  its  use  entirely  practical 
for  Elaine  and  himself  in  all  conditions,  either  with  or 
without  some  needed  burden. 

He  had  managed  to  widen  the  narrowest  squeeze  by 
chipping  the  rock  with  his  chisel.  He  had  carefully 
rearranged  the  broken  fragments  down  where  the  cor 
ridor  entered,  or  branched  from,  the  cavern,  and  there 
provided  a  second  of  his  wattle  doors,  considerably 
heavier  than  the  first  and  more  artfully  studded  with 
stone.  This  he  had  made  to  be  adjusted  from  with 
out  or  within  the  passage  it  concealed.  From  within 
it  could  also  be  barred  in  place  with  a  heavy  billet  of 
the  toughest  wood  his  brazen  tools  would  shape. 


234  AS  IT  WAS 

This  late  afternoon,  when  the  last  of  his  jugs  had 
been  taken  down  and  concealed  by  the  spring,  all  ready 
for  filling  and  carrying  back  the  moment  occasion 
should  arise,  Grenville  felt  that,  save  for  a  meat  supply, 
he  had  made  nearly  every  possible  provision  against 
attack  and  siege. 

The  day  was  practically  spent.  He  glanced  at  the 
sun.  Undecided  between  an  hour  of  hunting  with  his 
bow  and  a  quick  excursion  down  to  the  crypt  of  treas 
ure,  he  remembered  certain  ornaments  Elaine  might 
wear  and  decided  to  go  for  the  gold  and  gleaming 
jewels.  They  had  meat  for  dinner,  already  being 
roasted  in  a  sandpit  with  several  newly  gathered  yams. 

Elaine,  with  a  basket  of  tempting  fruits,  returned  to 
the  terrace  from  the  thicket  before  he  was  ready  for 
his  trip.  The  fact  that  he  bore  a  torch  and  basket 
aroused  no  query  in  her  mind,  so  frequently  had  he 
made  his  underground  excursions. 

He  left  the  door  at  the  gallery  entrance  open  and 
made  an  easy  descent.  Glad  to  be  independent  of  both 
the  tide  and  his  raft,  he  paused  when  he  came  to  the 
main  cave's  ragged  opening,  for  a  moment  thoroughly 
startled. 

The  weird  tidal  wail  had  just  commenced,  so  close 
at  hand  it  echoed  all  through  the  place.  It  had  never 
before  occurred  while  he  was  actually  in  the  cavern. 
Immediately  rendered  curious  to  see  whence  and  how 
it  was  produced,  he  hastened  down  the  outside  ledge, 
completely  baffled  by  the  intermingled  reverberations. 

He  had  barely  concentrated  his  attention  on  a  cer 
tain  hole  in  the  rock,  below  the  tidal  level,  when  the 
last  uncanny  moan  seemed  choked  to  a  horrible  gurgle 
which  could  not  be  renewed. 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  235 

The  thing  had  never  before  been  so  brief  or  so 
abruptly  ended.  Its  brevity  jarred  upon  him  no  less 
unpleasantly  than  its  prolongation  had  done  when  he 
and  Elaine  first  arrived  upon  the  island.  As  if  the 
occurrence  sounded  a  warning  not  to  be  mistaken,  he 
proceeded  at  once  within  the  cave. 

His  mind  was  filled  with  thoughts  of  native  visitors, 
who  might  only  be  waiting  for  this  natural  phenomenon 
to  cease  before  they  came  swarming  across  the  sea, 
perhaps  to  search  and  loot  this  very  cavern.  He  re- 
'  fleeted  they  might  have  searched  it  before,  and  had 
either  been  baffled  by  the  water  It  formerly  contained 
or  had  missed  the  niche  his  accidental  interest  had 
discovered. 

Though  he  thought  that  less  than  half  the  wall  he 
had  previously  assaulted  could  now  remain  in  the  arch 
of  the  treasure  cavern,  yet  fully  a  half-hour's  labor 
was  essential  before  he  could  worm  his  way  inside  where 
the  gold  and  the  stones  dully  glittered.  He  cleared  out 
a  few  more  stones  to  admit  his  carrying  basket. 

A  thrill  went  through  him  as  he  laid  his  hands  upon 
the  priceless  treasures  disposed  in  the  tomblike  place. 
Notwithstanding  the  fact  the  cave  had  been  sealed,  al 
most  hermetically,  a  coating  of  thin,  impalpable  dust 
veiled  everything  he  touched.  The  things  had  un 
doubtedly  been  here  years  on  years,  till  perhaps  tradi 
tion  only  still  affirmed  their  existence,  while  old  fanatics 
might,  for  generations,  have  persisted  in  tattooing  that 
"  map  "  on  some  victim's  breast  for  the  cavern's  living 
concealment  and  the  faithful  preservation  of  its 
contents. 

The  gold  was  all  wrought  in  ornaments — like  anklets, 
bracelets,  amulets,  and  girdles.  It  had  all  been  crudely 


236  AS  IT  WAS 

pounded  into  shape  from  virgin  metal.  There  were 
pieces  of  odd,  unfamiliar  shape,  the  uses  for  which  could 
hardly  be  conjectured.  It  was  all  of  it  heavy  and 
massive,  many  pieces  crudely  resembling  cumbrous  seals 
with  mystic  devices  stamped  on  cither  side. 

Of  the  stones — comprising  principally  diamonds,  ru 
bies,  and  sapphires — many  were  still  uncut,  while  others, 
by  the  handful,  were  crudely  mounted  in  hammered 
gold  to  form  girdle  after  girdle.  A  crown,  exhibiting 
nothing  of  the  jeweler's  modern  or  even  ancient  craft, 
was  none  the  less  of  extraordinary  intrinsic  value  for 
the  heft  of  gold  that  formed  its  band  and  the  huge 
stones  thrust  rudely  through  its  substance. 

Despite  his  impatience  to  collect  the  lot  in  his  basket 
and  depart  the  place,  Grenville  remained  there  in 
actively,  absorbed  in  a  study  of  this  piece  or  that,  to 
identify,  if  possible,  the  curious  workmanship.  That 
much,  if  not  all,  the  gold  work  argued  craftsmen  of 
the  African  wilds  he  felt  convinced.  But  the  stones 
could  have  come  from  India  only,  he  was  sure,  either 
through  tribute  or  plundering,  and  the  latter  was  by 
far  the  more  likely  method. 

He  had  heard  from  one  of  his  oldest  friends,  who 
was  likewise  the  best  informed  of  all  his  military  ac 
quaintances,  that  the  West  Coast  Africans  still  conceal 
vast  treasures  of  kings  or  chiefs  deceased,  such  buried 
wealth  to  be  utilized  by  former  possessors  in  some  life 
beyond  the  grave.  That  this  hoard,  by  some  strange 
and  unusual  chance,  had  resulted  from  that  barbaric 
practice  he  felt  there  could  be  no  doubt.  The  fact  it 
was  hundreds  of  miles  from  Africa  argued  nothing 
against  the  theory,  since  either  by  imitation  or  as  a 
result  of  far  excursions  over  sea  the  present  collection 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  237 

could  have  landed  here  in  this  remarkably  hidden  and 
"  spirit  "-guarded  cave,  where  even  the  hardiest,  clev 
erest  seeker  of  fortune  would  never  be  likely  to  search. 

He  was  still  engaged,  like  some  merely  scientific 
archeologist,  in  examining  piece  after  piece  of  the 
metal,  or  one  after  another  of  the  stones,  which  were 
cut  as  never  he  had  seen  them  before,  when  he  fancied 
some  weird,  faint  echo  called  his  name. 

With  pounds  of  the  trinkets  in  his  hands,  he  returned 
to  the  broken  heap  of  stones  he  had  lately  overthrown. 
Out  of  the  ringing  silence  of  the  larger  cave  came  a 
distant  wisp  of  sound — 

He  knew  that  Elaine  was  calling  from  somewhere  in 
the  passage. 

It  was  only  the  work  of  a  moment  to  catch  up  his 
basket  and  place  in  its  hold  the  small  stone  sarcophagi 
of  jewels.  Carelessly  then,  on  top  of  these,  he  swept 
in  the  ornaments  of  gold.  They  fell,  dully  ringing, 
from  the  shelves,  where  perhaps  they  had  lain  for 
above  a  century — a  heterogeneous  collection  which  he 
was  sorry  to  disturb  till  the  various  positions  in  which 
they  had  been  disposed  could  be  noted  and  remem 
bered. 

He  was  certain  no  less  than  a  hundredweight  of  the 
treasure  taxed  his  strength  when  he  presently  lifted 
his  burden  from  the  place  and  bore  it  across  the  larger 
chamber. 

Elaine  was  calling  again.  Her  voice  was  clearer  in 
the  passage.  Grenville  came  there,  panting  from  his 
effort,  with  his  dusty  and  useless  riches.  He  answered 
at  once  on  entering  the  gallery,  where  he  paused  to 
close  and  secure  his  concealing  door. 

"  Please  come !  "  was  the  cry,  in  response  to  his  shout, 


238        AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING 

like  an  unreal  voice  from  the  blackness  of  a  tomb. 
"  They're  here !  They're  close  to  the  island !  " 

With  a  short  but  inarticulate  ejaculation,  Grenville 
once  more  took  up  his  basket,  blundered  forward  with 
it  a  few  feet  only,  and  set  it  down  against  the  wall. 
Why  he  had  paused  to  bother  with  it,  for  a  moment  he 
did  not  understand.  With  his  torch  flaring  back,  in  his 
greater  speed,  he  plunged  along  and  up  the  passage. 

Around  the  first  of  the  sharper  angles  he  came  upon 
Elaine.  She  had  brought  no  torch,  in  her  hurry  to 
sound  the  alarm,  but  had  groped  her  way  downward 
through  the  Stygian  blackness  of  the  gallery,  calling 
time  after  time  as  the  gloom  rendered  up  no  reply. 

Her  eyes  were  dilated  wildly,  from  her  efforts  to 
see  in  the  dark.  Her  face  seemed  intensely  white 
against  the  impenetrable  ebon. 

"  Oh,  I  thought  you'd  never  come !  "  she  said,  as 
Sidney  approached  with  his  light.  "  They  were  al 
most  up  to  the  island  before  I  dreamed  such  a  thing 
could  be !  The  tree  must  have  hidden  the  sail !  " 

Grenville  placed  the  torch  in  her  hand  and  urged  her 
upward  before  him.  They  presently  emerged  on  the 
ledge. 

He  had  no  more  than  crept  to  the  terrace-edge  and 
studied  the  craft  below  on  the  sea  than  he  came  once 
more  to  Elaine. 

"  No  use  in  striking  our  flag,"  he  said.  "  They've 
seen  it.  We'll  fly  it  till  the  end." 


CHAPTER  XXX 

REVEALING    AN    INTENT 

THE  native  ship,  that  had  sailed  unobserved  within 
almost  hailing  distance  of  the  headland,  was  not  the 
one  that  had  come  to  the  island  before.  It  was  larger. 
Six  men  at  least  comprised  its  crew,  a  villainous-looking 
collection. 

Grenville  had  seen  them  close  at  hand,  as  they  passed 
by  the  entrance  to  the  cave.  That  they  contemplated 
an  immediate  landing  seemed  probable,  making  as  they 
were  towards  the  crescent  indentation  along  by  the 
estuary's  mouth. 

Sidney  had  lost  little  time  in  vain  regrets  for  the 
hour  spent  uselessly  below.  He  had  gone  at  once  to 
the  gallery  and  hidden  its  entrance  with  the  door.  He 
had  caught  up  Elaine's  well-finished  nets  and  the  pole 
for  a  yoke  she  had  been  working  to  complete  when  the 
visitors'  sail  was  discovered  and,  only  pausing  to  make 
certain  he  could  not  be  seen,  went  at  once  to  the  spring 
for  extra  jugs  of  water. 

The  sun  was  already  dipping  redly  in  its  bath  when 
he  brought  his  first  burden  to  the  terrace.  He  paused 
to  observe  the  maneuvers  of  the  ship,  now  coming  about 
in  the  sunset  breeze,  just  off  the  tiny  inlet  where  his 
catamaran  was  moored. 

The  queer  sharp  sail  was  reefed  while  he  was  watch 
ing.  He  saw  three  men  heave  overboard  an  anchor, 

239 


240  AS  IT  WAS 

which  promptly  sounded  the  shallow  depths  where  the 
strange  craft  presently  swung. 

Considerably  to  Elaine's  discomfort  of  mind,  he  has 
tened  once  more  down  the  trail.  She  was  certain  the 
Dyaks  would  go  to  the  spring  before  Sidney  could  get 
away.  However,  he  brought  another  pair  of  jugs,  an 
armful  of  fuel,  and  a  basket  of  fruit  with  the  greatest 
possible  expedition. 

The  boatmen  made  no  movement  to  come  ashore  as 
long  as  the  twilight  revealed  them.  The  highest  notes 
of  their  voices  floated  indistinctly  to  the  terrace,  to 
wards  which  the  men  were  frequently  seen  to  gesture, 
but  even  these  sounds  were  finally  lost  as  darkness  en 
wrapped  the  island. 

Despite  the  fact  that  four  of  his  water-jugs  still 
remained  in  the  thicket  near  the  spring,  Grenville  made 
no  more  trips  for  water  that  evening,  since  Elaine  \vas 
obviously  distressed  by  the  thought  of  the  risk  he  might 
incur. 

He  was  awake  all  night,  maintaining  the  life  of  their 
smoldering  fire,  and  alert  for  any  signs  or  sounds  of 
movement  in  the  clearing  by  the  trail.  In  one  of  the 
darkest  hours  before  the  dawn  he  heard  the  familiar 
wails  and  moans  of  the  headland  cave  rise  briefly  on 
the  wind. 

From  the  anchored  ship  the  cry  was  returned,  as  on 
the  former  occasion.  After  that  a  droning  chant  came 
fitfull}'  up  from  the  darkness  of  the  waters,  to  die  at 
last  in  the  silence.  Later  he  heard  a  shout,  and  then 
vague  accents  of  speech.  But,  when  daylight  arrived, 
the  craft  had  disappeared. 

Elaine  had  not  yet  risen.  Grenville  quietly  moved 
from  one  extremity  of  the  headland  to  the  other,  search- 


IN  THE  BEGINNING 

ing  the  sea  in  all  directions.  He  was  soon  convinced 
the  visitor  had  not  decamped,  but  had  moved  the  vessel 
to  one  or  another  of  the  island's  hidden  inlets,  that 
its  movements,  as  well  as  those  of  its  crew,  should  be 
no  longer  observed. 

One  lingering  hope,  which  he  had  fostered  in  his 
breast,  that  the  natives  might  not  prove  a  bloodthirsty 
lot  of  head-hunters  after  all,  he  felt  he  must  definitely 
abandon.  This  furtive  move  under  cover  of  the  dark 
was  not  the  sort  of  maneuver  to  excite  one's  trust  or 
confidence. 

Elaine  was  standing  in  her  shelter  door  when  at 
length  he  came  once  more  to  his  place  by  the  top  of 
the  trail.  She,  too,  had  discovered  the  absence  of  the 
native  vessel. 

"  I  think  another  one  came  in  the  night,"  she  said, 
when  Sidney  explained  his  belief  that  the  boat  was  in 
hiding  behind  the  farther  walls.  "  I  am  sure  I  heard 
another  voice." 

Grenville  recalled  the  shout  that  had  followed  the 
chanting  and  felt  that  this  accounted  for  Elaine's  con 
viction  that  more  of  the  Dyaks  had  arrived. 

"  We  have  not  been  actually  seen  as  yet,"  he  assured 
her.  "  Our  flag  of  distress  is  not  a  positive  sign  of 
anyone's  presence  on  the  island.  We  shall  soon  deter 
mine  by  their  movements  whether  these  chaps  intend 
to  be  friendly  or  not." 

"Would  they  hide  if  they  meant  to  be  friendly?" 

"  It  isn't  a  friendly  sign You  see,  I'm  still  of 

opinion  the  island's  wail  is  a  sound  they  rather  dread. 
Have  you  noticed  it's  rapidly  failing? " 

"  I've  been  ever  so  glad  it  seems  so  short  and  grow 
ing  fainter." 


242  AS  IT  WAS 

"  Yes,"  he  drawled.  "  I'm  afraid  it  will  soon  cease 
altogether,  when  our  friends  may  buck  up  their  courage 
and — show  us  their  state  of  mind." 

"What  can  wo  do  in  the  meantime?" 

"  Sit  tight  and  watch  for  developments." 

But  all  that  day  there  was  never  so  much  as  a  sound 
or  a  sign  of  the  crew  they  had  seen  arrive.  At  one 
time,  just  before  noon,  Grenville  fancied  some  move 
ment  occurred  in  the  rocks  that  crowned  the  second 
hill.  But  he  detected  no  further  indication  that  some 
one  might  have  scaled  the  cliff  to  spy  on  himself  and 
Elaine. 

He  had  never  in  his  island  rambles  discovered  a  place 
by  which  that  hill  could  be  surmounted.  That  easy 
access  might  be  obtained  on  the  seaward  side  he  readily 
understood.  He  fretted  under  the  long  suspense — the 
uncertainty  brooding  over  the  island.  He  much  pre 
ferred  that  the  visitors  exhibit  a  downright  hostile 
intent  than  to  feel  that  beneath  the  sinister  calm  of 
thicket  and  jungle  might  lurk  insidious  death. 

He  felt  that  Elaine  and  himself  would  lack  for  noth 
ing,  except  fresh  meat,  for  at  least  a  couple  of  days, 
yet  he  knew  that  even  their  fruit  supply  was  wholly  in 
adequate  for  a  siege,  should  the  new  arrivals  make  up 
their  minds  to  starve  them  on  the  terrace.  Rather  than 
weakly  submit  to  any  such  abominable  tactics,  he  was 
fully  determined  to  bring  about  an  attack.  But  how 
was  an  open  question. 

When  once  again  the  night  drew  on  the  man  was  im 
patient  and  weary.  He  had  taken  no  rest  after  all  his 
long  previous  day  of  toil,  yet  to  sleep  and  invite  dis 
aster  up  the  trail  was  quite  impossible. 

"  We  shall  have  to  divide  the  night,"  said  Elaine, 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  243 

with  her  customary  practical  courage.  "  We  have  sim 
ply  got  to  be  sensible  to  preserve  our  strength  in  case 
we  have  to  fight." 

Grenville  consented  to  give  her  the  watch  till  mid 
night.  The  island's  wail  in  the  late  afternoon  had 
seemed  no  fainter  than  that  of  the  previous  day.  He 
was  quite  convinced  there  would  be  no  night  attack. 
Yet  he  stretched  a  cord  across  the  trail  that  must  pull 
at  his  arm  and  so  give  an  alarm  should  anyone  enter 
at  his  gate. 

Doubtless  in  this  confidence  he  fell  asleep  with  more 
than  usual  promptness.  He  was  far  more  weary  than 
he  knew,  and  Nature  demanded  her  dues. 

Elaine  was  glad  he  could  slumber  so  profoundly.  The 
night  was  barely  cool;  she  was  not  in  the  least  uncom 
fortable  as  she  sat  at  Grenville's  side.  She  knew  he 
would  waken  at  the  slightest  tug  on  the  cord  so  quickly 
contrived  to  warn  of  an  enemy's  approach,  and  there 
fore  felt  a  decided  sense  of  security,  despite  the  living 
silence  of  the  night. 

Long  before  midnight  she  was  tense  with  nervous 
apprehension.  Sounds  from  the  jungle  arose  from  time 
to  time  where  some  animal  prowled  for  its  prey.  A 
whisper  came  up  from  the  waves  that  lapped  the  cliff, 
and  haunted  the  air  as  if  with  spirits.  She  had  steeled 
her  heart,  however,  and  would  not  weaken  by  a  jot. 
The  hours  would  wear  away  somehow,  and  meantime — 
Sidney  was  resting. 

She  did  not  arise  to  walk  about  as  Grenville  would 
have  done.  Instead  she  sat  there,  stiffly  alert,  turning 
her  head  from  side  to  side,  as  the  minutes  dragged  heav 
ily  by,  listening,  staring  through  the  darkness,  fancy- 


244  AS  IT  WAS 

ing  shapes  had  begun  to  move  in  the  shadows  of  the 
rocks. 

It  was  finally  late  in  the  dead  of  night  when  a  sound 
of  unusual  heaviness  arose  from  the  brink  of  the  cliff. 
Had  someone  dropped  a  rock  in  the  sea,  the  disturb 
ance  could  scarcely  have  been  clearer. 

It  had  come,  she  thought,  from  over  beyond  the 
great  black  tree  that  loomed  against  the  sky.  She 
wondered  if  perhaps  she  ought  to  speak  to  Sidney.  She 
put  out  her  hand  to  touch  him  lightly  on  the  shoulder, 
but  withdrew  it  again  with  a  smile.  He  was  sleeping 
so  like  a  tired  boy ! 

The  sound  had  doubtless  been  nothing  to  rouse  the 
slightest  alarm.  If  it  came  again — 

It  did  come  again,  less  loud  and  distinct,  but  none 
the  less  unmistakable.  Her  heart  responded  immedi 
ately  with  a  quicker,  heavier  beat.  Perhaps  she  should 
try  to  ascertain  the  source  or  the  cause  of  the  noise. 
She  should  feel  so  ashamed,  so  weak  and  burdensome, 
to  Grenville  if  she  woke  him  for  nothing  at  all.  To 
look  about  was  assuredly  part  of  her  duty  while  on 
guard.  It  was  only  a  step  to  the  edge  of  the  terrace, 
across  familiar  ground. 

Chiding  herself  for  unwarranted  timidity  and  lack 
of  courage,  she  silently  left  her  seat  at  last  and  stepped 
from  Grenville's  side.  One  of  his  sticks  was  lying  near. 
She  took  it  in  her  hand.  Then  over  through  the 
shadows  she  glided  as  noiselessly  as  a  spirit,  goading 
herself  to  the  ordeal  with  thoughts  of  the  bold  and  fear 
less  manner  the  man  would  show  were  he  in  her  place 
on  this  safe  and  childish  excursion. 

She  had  heard  nothing  more,  though  she  frequently 
paused  to  hold  her  breath  and  await  a  further  sound. 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  245 

It  was  wholly  absurd,  she  told  herself,  for  her  heart 
to  pound  so  madly.  Just  there  to  the  brink,  past  those 
few  large  stones  and  shadows,  and  she  would  probably 
hear  some  slopping  of  the  waves  that  would  quiet  her 
liveliest  suspicion. 

Despite  her  utmost  efforts,  however,  she  could  not 
stand  upright  as  she  went,  and  she  could  not  continue 
quite  to  the  edge  without  one  or  two  more  pauses  to 
catch  her  breath  that  would  not  come  calmly  to  her 
lips.  But  she  forced  herself  all  the  way — save  just 
the  final  cautious  edging  to  the  scarp,  where  she  sud 
denly  knelt  and  leaned  a  little  forward. 

She  was  still  a  bit  short  of  the  brink,  but  remained 
where  she  was  to  calm  her  heart  and  listen.  She  could 
hear  the  water  plainly.  She  felt  entitled  to  arise  and 
hasten  back  to  Sidney — since  of  course  there  was  noth 
ing  further  to  be  heard. 

But,  before  she  could  gather  the  strength  to  rise,  a 
series  of  short,  percussive  sounds  all  but  froze  the  core 
of  her  heart — so  much  did  it  seem  like  someone  heavily 
panting. 

Then,  as  she  sat  there  staring  helplessly  at  the  jag 
ged  edge,  four  dark  things — four  fingers — crept  ac 
tively  over  the  lip  of  the  wall — and  a  face  abruptly 
followed,  with  a  knife  between  its  teeth! 

"  Sidney !  "  she  cried,  and,  madly  thrusting  the  stick 
she  had  brought  against  the  dark  and  hideous  counte 
nance,  she  arose  and  fled  wildly  from  the  place. 


CHAPTER  XXXI 

THE    SILENT    VISITORS 

GRENVILXE  came  running  across  the  rock-strewn  ter 
race  as  if  guided  by  superinstinct.  He  fancied  a  sound 
like  a  heavy  splash  arose  from  the  base  of  the  shadowy 
wall,  and  momentarily  sickened  to  the  bottom  of  his 
soul  with  the  thought  that  Elaine  had  fallen  over. 

He  saw  her  darting  towards  him  a  moment  later, 
however,  and  caught  her  protectingly  in  his  arms  as 
she  stumbled  on  a  rock  and  plunged  headlong  against 
his  breast. 

She  instantly  regained  her  foothold  and  clung  to  his 
arm,  brokenly  stammering  her  story  and  facing  back 
the  way  she  had  come  to  show  where  the  loathsome  ap 
parition  had  appeared  above  the  brink. 

Sidney  hastened  there  at  once,  armed  only  with  a 
stone.  Elaine,  in  a  violent  tremble,  stood  a  few  feet 
only  away,  having  followed  in  unabated  dread. 

Not  another  sound  could  Grenville  detect  as  he  leaned 
above  the  precipitous  plunge  attempting  to  pierce 
through  the  shadows  and  gloom,  as  he  watched  for 
some  movement  below.  Whether  the  man  had  fallen 
backward  from  the  lip,  to  go  hurtling  down  through 
the  darkness,  or  whether  he  had  accomplished  some 
swift  and  silent  retreat,  Sidney  had  no  means  of  ascer 
taining.  Only  the  ceaseless  lap  of  the  tide  made  a 
whisper  in  the  air. 

246 


AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING       247 

He  arose  and  returned  to  Elaine. 

"  I  had  no  idea  the  cliff  was  scalable,"  he  told  her, 
quietly.  "  I  doubt  if  that  means  of  spying  will  be  at 
tempted  again —  It  was  a  beastly  way  of  showing 
their  intentions  towards  us,  but  I'm  glad  to  know  what 
to  expect." 

"Where  has  he  gone?"  Elaine  faintly  chattered. 
"  If  he  should  only  be  waiting  to  come  again —  -  Such 
a  horrible  fright —  I  don't  know  why  I  didn't  faint, 
or  what  I  did.  I'm  so  weak  I  can  hardly  walk." 

"  Oh,  you're  as  right  a  trivet !  "  said  Grenville,  with 
a  ready  comprehension  of  the  need  of  keeping  up  her 
courage.  "  You  can  now  retire  with  a  comforting  sense 
of  having  saved  the  night." 

But  Elaine's  sense  of  comfort  was  a  woefully  nega 
tive  quantity.  She  was  shaken  to  the  center  of  her 
nerves.  She  dreaded  to  be  left  for  a  moment. 

Grenville,  however,  sent  her  off  to  bed  in  the  most 
peremptory  manner.  A  realizing  sense  that  their  trials 
had  only  well  begun  was  his  one  deeply  settled  con 
viction. 

"  Cheer  up !  "  he  said  to  her,  finally,  "  the  worst 
is  still  to  come." 

"  I'll  try,"  she  answered,  courageously.  "  But 
please  don't  let  it  come  to-night." 

For  more  than  two  hours  she  did  not  sleep,  or  even 
close  her  eyes.  Then  she  dragged  her  couch  to  a  space 
outside  her  door.  Every  movement  made  by  Gren 
ville,  as  he  watchfully  policed  the  edge  of  the  terrace, 
she  thus  followed  for  a  time,  half  rising  beneath  her 
tiger-skin  rug  in  her  dread  to  hear  him  go. 

When  she  finally  slept  she  dreamed  once  more  of  the 
murderous  eyes,  the  clenched  white  teeth,  and  the  flame- 


248  AS  IT  WAS 

shaped  blade  she  had  seen  at  the  brink  of  the  cliff. 
Grenville  heard  her  laboredly  call  his  name  as  in  her 
dreams  she  once  more  underwent  her  disturbing  ordeal, 
but  he  did  not  move  from  his  seat. 

At  dawn  she  was  slumbering  more  peacefully,  a  smile 
on  her  lips  as  she  lay  there  facing  his  position.  What 
a  royal  little  princess  of  the  island  she  appeared  with 
her  colorful  robe  lying  out  upon  the  rocks,  her  hair 
so  much  more  golden  than  the  tawny  hide,  and  the 
warm,  healthy  glow  restored  once  more  to  her 
cheeks ! 

Grenville  was  sure  he  had  never  half  appreciated  the 
wonder  and  abundance  of  her  hair,  the  darker  penciling 
of  her  arching  brows,  the  delicate  beauty  of  her 
features. 

He  presently  once  more  bent  his  attention  on  the 
island  that  rendered  up  never  a  sign. 

Neither  the  jungle,  the  summits  of  the  further  hills, 
nor  the  sea  that  stretched  interminably  about  them  en 
lightened  his  searching  eyes.  Save  for  that  night  ex 
perience,  it  might  have  seemed  preposterous  that  ene 
mies  existed  in  the  miniature  world  by  which  they  were 
surrounded. 

He  crept  in  his  cautious  manner  to  the  crumbling 
edge  where  Elaine  had  seen  the  face.  There  was  noth 
ing  below  in  the  water.  He  could  readily  follow  the 
bits  of  shelf  and  succession  of  pits  in  the  wall,  how 
ever,  whereby  a  daring,  barefooted  native  might  grope 
his  way  to  the  summit,  even  in  the  dark.  It  would 
doubtless  be  possible  here,  he  reflected,  to  explode  a 
bomb  against  the  pitted  surface  and  break  away  so 
large  a  cavity  as  to  render  all  future  ascents  impos 
sible.  But  this  was  a  task  to  be  deferred  for  a  time, 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  249 

since  he  had  no  wish  to  acquaint  the  visitors  oversoon 
with  the  fact  that  he  possessed  an  explosive. 

When  he  returned  to  the  shelter  again,  Elaine  had 
waked  and  carried  her  couch  to  the  cave.  Despite  the 
fact  the  hour  was  early  and  the  sun  only  well  above 
the  ocean's  rim,  she  declared  she  had  rested  much 
longer  than  was  either  wise  or  essential. 

Yet  there  was  nothing  to  do  for  either,  now  that  the 
day  was  begun.  Their  breakfast  of  fruits  was  soon 
concluded,  then  of  occupation  there  was  none.  Gren- 
ville  felt  it  inadvisable  to  move  about  too  freely  on 
the  terrace,  and  thereby  risk  betraying  the  fact  they 
were  only  two  in  number.  A  watcher  stationed  on  the 
second  hill  could  not,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  examine  the 
entire  top  of  the  terrace,  or  even  discern  its  prin 
cipal  features,  but  he  might  ascertain  decidedly  too 
much,  should  they  carelessly  expose  themselves  to 
view. 

The  morning  proved  for  Grenville  another  exaspera 
tion.  He  thought  of  nothing  by  way  of  labor  he  could 
advantageously  perform.  Their  defense,  though  crude, 
was  fairly  complete,  and  could  scarcely  be  improved. 
To  watch  the  edge  of  the  jungle,  hour  after  hour, 
where  never  a  sign  was  vouchsafed  his  vigilance,  was 
a  dulling  inactivity,  yet  a  highly  essential  precaution 
that  was  not  to  be  neglected. 

By  noon  he  was  fairly  in  a  mood  to  seek  out  the 
island's  invaders  alone,  to  hasten  some  definite  action. 
That  the  natives  intended  to  starve  them  into  a  visit 
to  the  spring  seemed  all  too  obvious.  Grenville  felt 
assured,  however,  the  water  down  in  the  cavern  would 
suffice  for  their  needs,  if  no  better  could  be  relied  upon, 
when  once  their  jars  were  empty,  while  gathering  fruit 


250  AS  IT  WAS 

would  not  be  wholly  impossible  under  cover  of  the 
night. 

With  the  thought  in  mind  that  only  the  trail  would 
be  kept  under  watch  by  the  Dyaks,  he  made  up  his 
mind  he  could  readily  contrive  a  ladder-like  platform 
to  extend  from  the  brink,  whereby  the  distance  to  the 
nearest  tree  might  be  conveniently  bridged  to  permit 
easy  access  to  the  jungle.  Of  creepers  and  extra  bam 
boo  poles  he  had  laid  in  ample  stock.  For  the  lack 
of  better  employment,  he  began  the  construction 
of  his  bridge  when  their  meager  luncheon  had  been 
finished. 

His  mind,  as  he  worked,  spun  schemes  innumerable 
for  the  daily  defeat  of  the  natives.  Aware  that  as  long 
as  the  terrace  could  be  held  starvation  and  thirst  would 
be  their  only  unconquerable  enemies,  he  entertained 
no  end  of  plans  for  catching  fish  without  bait  and 
even  trapping  or  fishing  up  small  animals  that  might 
rove  at  night  below  the  cliff.  From  these  reflections 
he  returned  to  the  men  who  prowled  about  them  after 
dark. 

To  secure  his  cord  across  the  trail  and  thereby  pro 
vide  an  alarm,  or  notice  of  the  enemy's  approach,  from 
that  direction,  was  a  very  simple  matter.  When  he 
finally  invented,  in  his  mind,  a  singular  "  rattle  "  to 
guard  the  approach  by  the  cliff,  he  dropped  all  em 
ployment  on  the  bridge  at  once  and  began  forthwith 
on  the  other. 

What  he  made  was  a  series  of  bamboo  buckets,  or 
cuplike  sections  of  the  hollow  tube,  with  stones  sus 
pended  inside  to  knock  against  the  walls  when  the 
things  were  lightly  shaken.  These  he  intended  to  hang, 
one  beside  another,  in  a  line  from  the  brink  of  the 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  251 

wall,  where  a  climber  must  strike  them  unawares  and 
.sound  a  resonant  warning. 

But  he  found,  on  hanging  a  pair  some  ten  feet 
down  along  the  face,  where  the  man  had  climbed  in 
the  night,  that  the  wind  would  sway  them  to  and  fro 
against  the  rock  and  constantly  ring  their  hollow 
tones. 

This  defect  he  presently  remedied  by  forming  a 
frame,  some  ten  feet  long  and  one  foot  wide,  in  which 
all  his  cups  were  suspended,  or  moored,  both  top  and 
bottom.  They  were  thus  so  lightly  hung  that  the 
smallest  jar  against  the  frame  would  joggle  them  all 
to  musical  utterance,  while  the  wind  could  have  no  ef 
fect  on  any  single  one. 

The  entire  frame  was  lowered  down  till  it  rested  a 
bit  unevenly  on  two  projecting  shelves  of  rock,  where 
it  leaned  a  trifle  outward  like  a  picture  on  a  wall,  as 
the  creepers  that  held  it  from  falling  were  finally  made 
secure.  When  Grenville,  by  way  of  a  trial,  nudged  it 
once  with  a  pole  thrust  down  against  it  for  the  pur 
pose,  it  rattled  out  a  decisive  alarm  that  one  could  have 
heard  from  the  trail. 

Grenville  thereupon  brought  out  a  bomb  from  his 
store  and  lowered  it  down  below  the  frame,  and  six  or 
eight  feet  to  the  side.  This  was  secured  not  only  by 
the  fuse,  but  likewise  by  more  of  the  creeper. 

Elaine,  who  during  his  absence  had  maintained  the 
watch  of  the  trail,  now  ran  to  the  place,  at  Grenville's 
signal,  for  a  moment's  inspection  of  the  whole  arrange 
ment  and  instruction  concerning  its  use. 

It  was  while  they  were  there  that  the  haunting  wail 
arose  for  a  gasping  spasm.  It  had  practically  failed. 
Sidney  doubted  if  its  loudest  note  could  have  been 


252  AS  IT  WAS 

heard  as  far  as  the  spring.  But  still  the  end  of  the 
tiresome  day  developed  no  attack. 

Grenville  was  completely  puzzled  by  the  tactics  the 
boatmen  had  adopted.  That  they  knew  Elaine  was 
present  on  the  terrace  there  could  be  not  a  shadow 
of  doubt.  Even  if  the  man  she  had  thrust  away  from 
the  cliff-edge  fell  to  the  sea  and  was  dashed  to  pieces, 
or  drowned,  his  friends  who  had  brought  him  around 
to  the  place  must  have  heard  her  voice  and  recognized 
its  feminine  quality. 

They  would  likewise  know  she  could  hardly  be  alone, 
and  would  guess  her  companions  were  not  numerous  or 
likely  to  be  armed.  No  plundered  wreckage  lay  about 
the  shore  from  which  castaways  could  have  drawn  am 
munition  or  rifles.  It  was  utterly  impossible  for  any 
ignorant  natives  to  imagine  the  loading  of  a  cannon 
or  the  making  of  bombs  from  materials  on  the 
place. 

What,  then,  was  the  reason  of  their  long  delay? 
They  could  scarcely  be  waiting  for  reinforcements. 
They  would  hardly  be  dreading  the  island's  "  spirit  " 
now,  since  the  sounds  had  practically  ceased,  and  one 
man  had  dared  ascend  the  cliff  with  a  knife  between 
his  teeth.  That  they  feared  an  open  attack  by  day 
and  dreaded  the  tiger  by  night  was  the  only  tenable 
theory  that  Grenville  could  devise. 

Yet  the  fact  of  the  matter  was  that,  until  the  cavern 
"  spirit "  should  be  absolutely  silenced,  the  supersti 
tious  Dyaks  could  only  be  forced  by  the  bulldozing 
threats  and  ferocity  of  their  fiendish  leader  to  set  foot 
upon  the  land.  It  was  he  who  had  sent  the  climber  up 
the  wall,  having  thrust  a  pistol  behind  the  fellow's  ear. 
A  certain  tragic  outcome  of  this  premature  adventure 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  253 

had  been  wholly  attributed  by  the  victim's  companions 
to  the  anger  of  the  wailing  soul  who  inhabited  the 
headland. 

The  bridge,  constructed  of  bamboo  supports,  was  a 
simple  affair,  completed  and  ready  by  sunset.  Be 
fore  the  darkness  was  absolute,  Grenville  conveyed  it 
along  to  the  eastern  jutting  of  the  cliff,  slid  it  down 
to  a  ledge  below  the  level  of  the  terrace,  and  easily 
thrust  the  end  across  to  the  nearest  tree,  where  it 
rested  securely  on  the  branches. 

He  found  that  it  bore  his  weight  remarkably  well. 
With  an  ordinary  length  of  pliable  ladder  he  could 
reach  the  ground  beneath  the  tree  without  the  slightest 
difficulty,  thereby  escaping  all  the  undergrowth  and 
broken  rock  that  would  render  a  straight  descent  from 
the  brink  not  only  a  noisy  piece  of  business,  but  like 
wise  one  of  considerable  hazard  and  discomfort.  And 
descending  thus,  instead  of  employing  the  trail,  he 
could  certainly  expect  to  escape  the  shrewdest  observa 
tion  on  the  part  of  any  native  set  to  watch  for  some 
night  adventure. 

Indeed,  so  alluring  became  the  prospect  of  leaving 
the  hill,  to  conduct  some  helpful  and  informing  ex 
plorations,  that  he  could  scarcely  wait  for  the  shadows 
of  night  to  settle  on  the  island  before  he  should  test 
his  apparatus. 

Elaine  was  frankly  and  confessedly  alarmed  when 
at  length  he  could  resist  the  temptation  no  longer 
and  announced  his  intentions  for  expending  a  portion 
of  the  evening. 

He  set  an  alarm  at  the  gate  on  the  trail,  however, 
and,  arming  himself  with  his  heavy,  cleaver-like  imple 
ment  for  chopping,  instructed  his  worried  companion 


254        AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING 

to  fire  the  cannon  without  delay  should  attack  develop 
in  his  absence. 

"  I  am  sure  you  will  have  no  visitors,  but,  in  case 
you  do,  don't  wait  to  see  who  it  is,  or  how  many,"  he 
said ;  "  let  the  little  gun  count  the  numbers." 

"  But  suppose — it  might  be  you !  " 

"  I  shall  not  return  that  way.  You  may  look  for  me 
back  in  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  at  the  most.  I  feel 
it's  important  to  know  what  is  going  on,  as  well  as 
to  gather  a  bit  of  fruit,  and  see  what  I  may  be  en 
abled  to  do  by  way  of  setting  some  traps  for  game. 
If  one  of  my  snares  could  be  brought  a  trifle  closer, 
it  might  provide  us  with  the  meat  we  certainly  ought 
to  have." 

Without  another  word,  she  watched  him  depart  for 
his  bridge  and  ladder  to  the  jungle. 


CHAPTER  XXXII 

DEATH    AS    A    BROTHER 

DESPITE  the  ease  with  which,  in  theory,  he  expected 
to  descend  to  the  ground,  Grenville  was  fully  ten  min 
utes  escaping  from  the  tree. 

A  number  of  twigs  that  he  could  not  have  passed 
without  creating  a  disturbance  he  cut  away  with  his 
knife.  His  ladder  was  also  badly  caught  and  stub 
bornly  refused  to  be  adjusted.  One  violent  rustling  of 
a  heavy  limb  he  caused  when  it  finally  slipped  straight 
down,  with  his  feet  all  but  striking  on  the  ground. 

He  remained  perfectly  silent,  ready  for  immediate 
retreat,  regaining  his  breath  and  straining  his  ears  for 
the  slightest  sound,  for  a  long,  uneventful  minute. 
When  he  finally  drew  his  sharp  brass  cleaver  from  his 
pocket  and  started  through  the  thicket,  there  was  not 
the  slightest  sound  in  all  the  region  about  him,  either 
of  animals  or  men. 

Into  one  of  the  numerous  wild  creatures'  trails  he 
found  his  way  with  greater  ease  because  of  his  thor 
ough  familiarity  with  all  that  end  of  the  island. 

The  trail,  as  he  knew,  led  down  by  the  spring,  where 
a  branch  wound  first  towards  the  estuary  and  then 
across  the  bed  of  the  rill,  where  it  cut  the  path  through 
the  axis  of  the  island. 

Almost  as  noiselessly  as  one  of  the  creatures  hunted 
or  hunting  in  the  hours  of  blackest  shadow,  he  made 

255 


AS  IT  WAS 

his  way  down  to  the  rear  of  the  pool,  where  he  paused 
as  before  to  listen.  The  squeal  of  some  little  nocturnal 
beast  and  the  patter  of  something  paddling  about  in 
the  water  convinced  him  at  once  the  Dyaks  were  cer 
tainly  not  there,  or  else  were  most  skillfully  hidden. 

With  a  steadily  increasing  conviction  that  the  boat 
men  would  stick  to  their  craft  at  night,  he  felt  his 
boldness  strengthen.  The  importance  of  discovering 
the  enemy's  position  was  duly  impressed  on  his  mind. 
He  felt  that  once  he  could  gain  the  principal  pathway 
down  the  island's  length  he  could  follow  the  edge  of 
a  narrow  bit  of  clearing,  off  to  the  left  of  the  rotting 
old  barque,  and  thus  arrive  above  the  inlet,  where  he 
was  certain  their  vessel  was  concealed. 

No  less  quietly  than  before  he  continued  out  around 
the  spring,  then  turned  to  the  left,  in  the  narrow  run 
way  of  the  animals,  and  emerged  behind  the  estuary, 
where  absolute  stillness  prevailed. 

He  presently  fancied,  as  he  slowly  continued  towards 
the  old-time  wreck,  that  a  murmur  of  distant  voices 
arose  from  off  at  the  left.  This  became  a  certainty 
when  he  reached  his  irregular  clearing.  Moreover,  he 
was  halfway  only  down  this  slope  of  rock  and  thicket 
when  simultaneously,  out  on  the  tide,  some  eighty  or 
ninety  feet  apart,  two  matches  were  lighted,  as  he 
could  see,  for  pipes  or  cigarettes. 

Elaine  had  been  right !  There  were  two  of  the  boats 
that  were  anchored  here  together! 

But,  although  more  murmurs  continued  to  arise, 
where  a  desultory  conversation  was  from  time  to  time 
renewed  on  either  craft,  he  could  by  no  means  ascer 
tain  either  the  number  of  the  Dyaks  or  what  it  was  of 
which  they  talked.  Satisfied  with  what  he  had  dis- 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  257 

covered,  and  certain  now  the  fellows  were  afraid  to 
remain  on  the  island  after  dark,  he  returned  up  the 
slope  with  an  easier  stride,  determined  to  see  what 
might  be  done  by  way  of  collecting  some  fruit. 

He  came  once  more  to  the  main  trail  through  the 
island,  pausing  to  hearken  once  again  as  a  sound  of 
splashing  in  the  inlet  came  uncertainly  on  the  breeze. 
Doubtless  the  crew  had  dipped  a  pail  of  water,  he 
thought,  or  thrown  overboard  some  refuse  from  their 
dinner. 

He  had  no  more  than  headed  again  towards  the  hill 
where  Elaine  was  waiting,  and  swung  about  from  the 
branch  to  the  principal  trail,  when,  without  the  slight 
est  warning  sound,  he  suddenly  and  heavily  collided 
with  someone  moving  as  noiselessly  as  himself  in  the 
opposite  direction. 

He  only  saw  that  the  man  thus  encountered  was  bare 
of  shoulders  and  taller  than  himself  as  he  thrust  out 
to  fend  the  fellow  off.  He  knew  on  the  instant  it  was 
one  of  the  boldest  of  the  head-hunters,  if  not  indeed 
their  chief. 

The  fellow  had  grunted  at  the  impact,  and,  quick  to 
discover  it  was  not  a  member  of  the  vessels'  crews, 
abruptly  sounded  one  triumphant  yell  as  he  reached 
for  his  knife  and  lunged  forward. 

There  were  answering  cries  from  a  few  feet  only 
behind  him — which  Grenville  heard  as  he  crashed  pre 
cipitately  through  the  near-by  thicket  and  made  for  the 
trail  to  the  barque. 

The  hue  and  cry  was  instantly  raised  as  the  fellow 
pursuing  came  wildly  through  the  jungle  on  his  track. 
Shouting  instructions  to  his  following,  this  obvious 
leader  of  the  prowling  band  continued  as  closely  as 


258  AS  IT  WAS 

possible  on  Grenville's  heels,  while  the  others  headed 
swiftly  towards  the  estuary,  convinced  that  their  man 
would  dart  around  and  make  for  his  camp  on  the 
hill. 

The  chief  of  the  natives  entertained  the  same  be 
lief,  as  Grenville  immediately  comprehended.  Having 
planned  exactly  as  they  had  supposed  he  would,  Sid 
ney  altered  his  course  on  the  instant,  dived  down  on 
all-fours  in  an  animal  path  he  had  frequently  followed 
before,  and  thus  crept  noiselessly  off  to  the  left,  once 
more  towards  the  plundered  wreck. 

Almost  at  once  an  ominous  silence  reigned  as  before 
in  the  place.  The  natives,  having  soon  missed  their 
quarry,  stood  perfectly  still,  at  command  of  their  chief, 
to  listen  and  gain  a  new  guidance. 

Tempted  to  put  all  possible  distance  between  him 
self  and  his  pursuers,  Grenville  continued  on,  a  bit  in 
cautiously.  A  branch  he  had  thrust  from  before  his 
face  slipped  back  before  he  had  intended  its  release. 
At  once  the  listening  head-hunters  plunged  forward 
again  in  his  direction. 

Fortunately,  Sidney  retained  his  presence  of  mind 
and  continued  to  crawl  on  hands  and  knees,  instead  of 
attempting  swifter  flight  through  the  branches  that 
closed  above  the  trail.  With  the  sounds  of  his  eager 
enemy  approaching  to  a  sweat-starting  proximity,  he 
dared  lie  perfectly  motionless  on  the  earth,  till  he 
heard  them  quietly  exploring  as  before  on  the  lines  he 
must  take  to  regain  the  terrace  at  the  rear. 

As  silently  now  as  a  shadow,  he  wormed  his  way 
forward  as  before.  He  had  gained  perhaps  a  matter  of 
twenty  or  thirty  feet  in  this  manner  when,  on  coming 
at  last  to  the  edge  of  the  clearing  where  the  old  barque 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  259 

lay,  he  heard  the  natives  beating  back,  convinced  that 
he  had  not  passed. 

For  one  moment  only  was  he  seized  by  indecision. 
Then  he  darted  across  the  clearing  unobserved  and, 
slipping  between  the  ribs  of  the  wreck,  as  he  had  on 
a  previous  occasion,  went  rapidly  groping  to  the  cabin, 
where  sat  the  mummy-skeleton  in  chains. 

He  had  not  achieved  this  maneuver  in  absolute  si 
lence,  having  sacrificed  something  to  speed.  Two  of 
the  head-hunters  broke  through  the  fringe  of  the 
thicket  with  furtive  swiftness,  as  he  noted  through  a 
hole  in  the  planks.  They  were  followed,  a  little  further 
on,  by  the  tall  man  first  encountered,  and  later  by  a 
small  but  constantly  moving  companion,  who  disap 
peared  again. 

At  a  given  signal  two  of  the  creatures  ran  swiftly 
about  the  barque,  one  going  in  cither  direction.  They 
had  evidently  expected  to  corner  their  intended  victim 
crouching  behind  the  empty  shell.  When  they  pres 
ently  returned  to  their  leader,  a  brief  consultation  was 
held. 

Grenville  watched  them  breathlessly,  aware  that 
Elaine's  position,  alone  on  the  hill,  was  tremendously 
jeopardized  every  moment  he  now  remained  away. 
Should  more  of  the  Dyaks  be  summoned  from  the  boats 
— the  time  would  be  short  for  prayers. 

Considerably  to  his  relief,  the  three  dark  figures 
resumed  the  search  along  the  edge  of  the  clearing. 

They  were  gone  from  sight  for  several  minutes,  and 
again  returned,  apparently  persuaded  their  quarry  had 
not  escaped  them  back  to  the  camp.  One  even  ven 
tured  to  approach  the  barque  and  peer  through  its 
rotted  ribs. 


260  AS  IT  WAS 

Grenville  had  quietly  moved  aside,  though  the  dark 
ness  would  have  shielded  him  completely.  When  the 
fellow  rejoined  his  companions  again,  the  chief  issued 
new  commands.  A  brief  expostulation  followed.  Sid 
ney  was  certain  that  one  of  two  things  portended. 
Either  the  leader  had  ordered  his  man  to  go  down  to 
the  boats  and  compel  a  force  to  land  and  storm  the 
now  half-guarded  hill,  which  the  fellow  argued  was  more 
than  he  could  do  with  Dyaks  afraid  of  the  darkness 
as  well  as  the  island's  spirit,  or  the  order  was — to  board 
and  search  the  wreck. 

Either  was  sufficiently  disquieting,  as  Grenville  con 
trolled  his  breathing  and  watched  for  the  next  develop 
ment  to  follow.  He  presently  saw  the  tall,  bare- 
shouldered  native  strike  his  protesting  follower  a  sav 
age  blow  across  the  face,  thrusting  something  that 
gleamed  against  the  shaken  creature's  ear  so  soon  as 
he  had  righted. 

The  craven  was  then  ready  to  obey.  He  accepted 
something  that  Grenville  could  not  see,  doubtless  an 
other  revolver,  and  came  forward  as  if  to  enter  the 
old  ship's  hull — but  not  through  the  hole  in  her  side. 
Meantime,  the  fourth  of  the  party  had  once  more  ap 
peared  from  the  growth.  He  apparently  suggested  that 
crews  from  the  vessels  be  summoned,  doubtless  to  at 
tack  the  hill.  Also  he  presumably  volunteered  to  go 
and  compel  their  attendance  on  their  chief.  His  ges 
tures  and  those  of  the  leader,  as  they  thus  conversed 
in  murmurs,  were  all  towards  the  inlet  where  the  boats 
were  anchored  or  towards  the  distant  hill. 

He  who  had  plainly  been  commanded  to  enter  and 
search  the  wreck  took  advantage  of  the  colloquy  to 
linger  with  the  group.  It  was  not  until  the  small  and 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  261 

active  demon  of  the  lot  had  darted  away  to  land  more 
men  that  the  chief  once  more  turned  his  attention  to 
the  coward. 

Whining  his  impotent  excuses  and  expostulations, 
the  fellow  affrightedly  climbed  upon  the  deck  and  was 
ordered  to  explore  the  cabin.  That  he  might  be  killed 
by  the  desperate  white  man  possibly  hiding  in  the  ves 
sel's  hold,  the  chief  was  well  aware.  The  sacrifice  of 
a  man  more  or  less  was  unimportant — provided  the 
quarry  was  thereby  discovered  in  a  hole  where  he  could 
not  escape. 

This  fact  was  fully  appreciated  by  two  other  persons 
concerned.  One  of  these  persons  was  Grenville,  the 
second  the  terrified  native.  This  shivering  wretch,  who 
had  known  for  years  of  the  terrible  guardian  sitting  in 
iron  chains  within,  blundered  noisily  about  in  the  upper 
quarters,  so  afraid  he  could  have  offered  no  defense  to 
a  child's  attack. 

Grenville  was  undecided  as  to  what  he  were  wiser 
to  do.  To  sink  his  cleaver  through  the  Dyak's  skull 
would  presently  be  comparatively  simple.  And,  should 
absolutely  silent  death  overtake  this  miserable  slave  of 
the  man  outside,  the  moral  effect  might  be  of  value. 
It  might  be  supposed  by  his  companions  he  had  died 
of  fright  alone.  Yet  Sidney  argued  that  any  fate 
whatsoever  silencing  the  fellow  now  might  be  construed 
as  proof  of  his  own  presence  in  the  wreck. 

Instantly  deciding  that,  once  they  concluded  he  was 
not  here,  the  Dyaks  would  leave  and  permit  his  escape, 
Grenville  silently  crept  to  the  open  door  beside  the  dead 
man  held  in  chains,  slipped  behind  the  rotted  old  parti 
tion,  and,  without  a  sound,  replaced  the  door  almost 
as  he  had  originally  found  it. 


AS  IT  WAS 

The  chief  had  meantime  approached  the  barque,  to 
order  his  man  to  the  hold.  To  the  musty  cabin  where 
"  Buli  "  sat,  the  fellow  was  forced  to  stumble.  Some 
report  he  quavered  in  accents  of  terror  was  not  re 
ceived  with  favor,  and  a  new  command  was  issued. 

Grenville  made  ready  to  drop  the  man,  should  he 
dare  push  open  the  door.  He  was  certain  the  craven 
had  been  ordered  to  this  fatal  exploration.  But,  in 
stead,  the  whining  demon  lighted  a  match,  to  reveal 
all  the  contents  of  the  place. 

By  the  yellow  light  both  this  fellow  and  the  leader, 
peering  through  the  side,  met  the  vacant  stare  of 
"  Buli's  "  eyes — and  both  were  frightened  to  utterance. 
The  chief's  brief  note  was  a  rigmarole  of  charm,  to 
avert  the  evil  eye.  His  slave's  shrill  performance  was 
a  scream,  as  the  fellow  reeled  back,  stumbling  blindly 
away  and  falling  as  he  went. 

The  pistol  he  carried  was  discharged.  The  fellow 
was  wounded  in  the  hip.  His  groans,  as  he  dragged 
himself  out  on  the  deck,  were  drowned  by  the  curses 
of  the  leader. 

This  dominant  brute,  having  noticed  the  door  where 
Sidney  stood  concealed,  now  ordered  the  second  of  his 
men  to  explore  where  the  first  had  failed.  As  Gren 
ville  once  more  looked  out  through  a  ragged  hole  to 
observe  the  proceedings,  this  second  fellow  began  a 
somewhat  stouter  objection  than  his  predecessor  had 
done,  but  was  even  more  promptly  cowed  or  persuaded 
to  submission. 

Meanwhile,  the  cries  of  a  horde  of  Dyaks  from  the 
boats  arose  from  the  jungle  below.  They  had  evi 
dently  landed  with  considerable  willingness  of  spirit, 
as  Grenville  was  thoroughly  aware.  He  thought  of 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  263 

Elaine  with  a  sudden  sinking  of  the  vitals.  No  sooner 
had  the  second  of  the  natives  started  to  mount  to  the 
deck,  where  number  one  still  lay  groaning,  than  a  wild 
idea  shot  into  Sidney's  mind.  At  any  cost,  he  must 
make  one  dash  for  the  hill. 

He  quietly  slipped  to  the  cabin  again,  where  "  Buli  " 
had  long  been  captain  and  crew  of  the  barque.  The 
one  brief  glance  he  bestowed,  through  the  hole,  on  the 
leader  of  the  murderous  demons,  now  hastening  to 
the  place,  showed  that  ingenious  savage  standing 
perhaps  a  rod  away  and  calling  to  the  on-coming 
crews. 

The  fellow  on  deck  was  making  sufficient  noise  to 
mask  a  fair  disturbance  in  the  cabin.  Taking  instant 
advantage  of  this  fact,  Grenville  groped  downward  with 
his  hands — and  encountered  "  Buli  "  promptly. 

"  I  need  your  services,  brother,"  he  murmured, 
grimly,  and,  finding  the  chain  that  shackled  the  sitting 
skeleton,  he  placed  one  foot  upon  its  upper  end  and 
tore  the  staple  entirely  out  of  the  rotten  wood  it 
pierced. 

Bodily  lifting  the  mummified  thing  in  his  arms,  he 
hastened  forward,  to  the  hole  that  he  alone  had  dared 
to  utilize,  broken  through  the  decaying  hulk,  where 
he  passed  first  his  burden  and  then  himself  between  the 
ancient  ribs. 

A  cry  had  been  sounded  from  within  the  barque. 
The  chief  of  the  Dyaks  suddenly  turned  and  rushed, 
knife  in  hand,  upon  the  man  he  beheld  escaping  from 
the  hold. 

Grenville  waited  for  him,  deliberately.  Just  as  the 
fellow  lunged  actively  forward,  Sidney  thrust  the 
hideous  effigy  of  a  human  being  into  the  arms  and 


264       AS  IT  WAS   IN  THE  BEGINNING 

against  the  face  of  his  wildly  stabbing  assailant  and 
nimbly  leaped  towards  the  trail. 

A  sound  of  horror  broke  from  the  Dyak's  lips  as  he 
rolled  on  the  earth  with  the  skeleton  rattling  down  upon 
him.  But  a  brief  time  only  was  he  prostrate  there  with 
his  terror.  Uttering  screams  as  shrill  as  a  woman's 
and  darting  swiftly  to  meet  his  crew  of  men,  who  sud 
denly  swarmed  from  the  thicket,  he  headed  a  wild, 
fanatic  pursuit  where  Grenville  was  speeding  for  the 
terrace. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII 

THE   GIRL  BEHIND   THE   GUN 

ALONE  on  the  hill,  and  already  strung  to  the  highest 
tension  of  dread  by  Grenville's  long  absence,  after  what 
he  had  said  of  a  prompt  return,  Elaine  had  been  struck 
with  alarm  to  the  core  of  her  being,  as  the  various 
sounds  came  clearly  up  from  the  jungle  about  the  dis 
integrated  wreck. 

It  was  fears  for  Sidney,  not  for  herself,  that  had 
finally  possessed  her  fluttering  heart  as  the  muffled  shot 
and  subsequent  cries  floated  uncertainly  from  down 
there  in  the  darkness.  She  knew  that  Grenville  had 
no  gun,  and  was,  therefore,  certain  it  was  he  who  must 
have  suffered  a  wound. 

With  a  blazing  torch  she  had  run  to  the  edge  of  the 
terrace,  to  light  Sidney  home,  if,  by  any  bare  chance, 
he  had  escaped.  She  was  there,  transfixed  by  appre 
hension,  when  at  length,  with  cries  like  a  pack  of  wolves, 
the  Dyaks  came  racing  toAvards  the  clearing. 

Meantime  Grenville  had  gained  a  considerable  lead 
of  the  devils  on  his  heels,  and,  on  passing  the  spring, 
had  caught  a  glimpse  of  Elaine  with  her  brand  of 
fire.  He  paused  for  a  second  to  shout  essential  di 
rections,  lest  she  might  have  forgotten  in  her  plight. 

"  Don't  fire,  Elaine,  till  you  see  them  on  the  trail !  " 

With  that  he  darted  abruptly  to  the  left,  for  the 
animal  trail  that  would  lead  him  to  his  ladder.  He 

265 


266  AS  IT  WAS 

had  no  more  than  gained  it  when,  with  a  chorus  of 
demoniac  yells  and  screams  of  triumph,  the  straggling 
pursuers  broke  madly  into  the  clearing  and  darted  across 
it  for  the  trail. 

Even  then,  afraid  that  Elaine  might  fail  to  perform 
her  allotted  task,  Grenville  sped  up  his  ladder  like  a 
creature  of  the  wild,  and  came  to  the  end  of  his 
platform. 

The  Dyaks  were  immediately  storming  the  barrier, 
the  breach  of  which  was  promptly  discovered,  and  Sid 
ney's  alarm  was  jerkily  resounding. 

Like  a  spirit  of  maternity,  nerved  to  any  ordeal  by 
the  sense  of  protecting  one  she  loved,  Elaine  crouched 
low  beside  the  cannon,  her  dilated  eyes  intent  upon  the 
trail.  She  had  clung  to  a  hope  that  Grenville  might 
yet  appear  in  time  to  take  charge  of  the  gun.  But 
suddenly  now,  to  her  terror,  four  or  more  figures  darkly 
appeared  on  the  ledge  above  the  gate,  coming  swiftly 
towards  her  position. 

She  thrust  the  torch  desperately  down  upon  the  fuse, 
saw  the  powder  spew  out  a  shower  of  sparks,  and  rolled 
and  tumbled  hotly  from  the  place. 

She  was  suddenly  agonized  by  the  thought  that  the 
thing  would  fail,  but  Grenville  had  barely  reached  the 
solid  rock  when  the  cannon  abruptly  thundered. 

A  wide-spreading  cataract  of  fire  was  projected  in  a 
red-and-yellow  cone  across  the  space  between  the  brink 
and  the  wall  behind  the  trail,  as  the  powder  poured  its 
punishment  into  the  ranks  of  the  creatures  leaping  up 
ward  to  destruction.  The  detonation,  sharp,  crisp,  ap 
pallingly  loud  in  the  stillness  of  the  island,  fairly 
stunned  Elaine,  now  kneeling  helplessly  among  the 
rocks. 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  267 

Shrieks  of  dismay  and  sudden  agony  immediately  suc 
ceeded  the  explosion,  while  its  echoes  still  rattled  wildly 
back  from  the  distant  hills  of  rock.  In  the  utter  dark 
ness,  by  contrast  following  the  one  brief  glare,  there 
was  nothing  to  be  seen  along  the  path.  But  wounded 
men  were  staggering  downward,  in  blind  retreat,  al 
ready  abandoned  by  their  unscathed  companions,  in 
flight  below  the  gate. 

Grenville  had  run  to  his  store  of  bombs,  instead  of 
coming  straight  to  the  gun.  He  meant  to  be  prepared 
against  a  second  attack.  As  his  active  figure  now  ap 
peared  where  he  hastened  brinkward,  watching  both 
trail  and  clearing,  Elaine  beheld  him  at  last.  She 
arose  and  stumbled  towards  him,  her  feet  still  heavy 
with  her  dread,  her  heart  wildly  leaping  in  joy. 

"  Were  you  shot?  "  she  cried.     "  Are  you  hurt?  " 

"  No,  right  as  a  fiddler ! "  he  assured  her,  quickly, 
glancing  down  at  the  shadowy  path.  "  I  only  wish  I 
could  bait  them  again  and  lead  the  remainder  to  the 
gun!" 

He  charged  the  piece  at  once,  having  brought  for 
the  purpose  a  bamboo  canister  of  powder,  open  and 
heaping  at  the  end.  This  he  thrust  complete  down  the 
muzzle  of  the  cannon,  to  be  rammed  home  with  dozens  of 
his  slugs. 

Cries  still  arose  from  the  jungle,  more  faintly,  now, 
as  the  Dyaks  retreated  down  the  island.  Excitement 
still  rang  in  the  air.  Neither  Grenville  nor  Elaine  felt 
certain  the  attack  would  not  be  renewed.  There  was 
something  dark  that  Sidney  could  see,  crawling  pain 
fully  down  the  incline  of  the  trail,  assisting  something 
more  inert.  He  purposely  shielded  Elaine  from  the 
sight,  lest  she  understand  too  well.  He  much  preferred 


o68  AS  IT  WAS 

that  the  Dyaks  recover  their  possible  slain  from  about 

the  place. 

Elaine  was  still  too  tensely  wrought  for  reaction. 
She  could  hardly  understand  how  the  situation  had 
been  changed  so  abruptly  from  attack  into  utter  rout. 
Her  ears  were  still  ringing  from  the  cannon's  deafening 
roar.  She  had  taken  no  time  to  comprehend  the  re 
sults  of  what  she  had  accomplished. 

"How  shall  we  know  if  they  do  come  back?"  she 
questioned,  excitedly.  "  They  probably  broke  the 
alarm." 

"I'll  repair  it  soon.  Did  it  ring?  But,  of  course, 
you  couldn't  have  taken  time  to  hear.  Did  you  under 
stand  me  when  I  shouted  ?  " 

"  I  heard  it,  horribly  shaken,"  said  Elaine.  "  I 
heard  so  many  awful  noises.  I  heard  you  call,  of 
course.  But,  perhaps,  I  didn't  wait  long  enough,  after 
all.  I  don't  seem  to  remember.  I  waited  as  long  as  I 
could.  I  hope  I  only  frightened  them  away ! "  She 
sat  down,  overtaken  at  last  by  weakness  in  her  limbs. 

The  torch  she  had  used  had  fallen  from  her  hand.  It 
barely  smoldered  on  the  rocks.  Grenville  extinguished 
it  completely,  then  continued  to  prime  the  cannon  as  be 
fore,  with  powder  sprinkled  on  the  vent,  and  a  fuse  laid 
for  several  feet  along  the  ledge.  He  was  glad  to  note 
the  little  piece  had  been  securely  held  in  place  upon  its 
log  by  its  wrappings  and  the  weight  of  heavy  stones. 

"  I'll  go  down  and  examine  the  gate,"  he  said,  aware 
that,  though  the  Dyaks  had  undoubtedly  suffered  se 
verely,  a  still  attack  might  yet  be  attempted  in  the 
dark.  Therefore,  leaving  Elaine  to  recover  as  best  she 
might,  he  was  soon  moving  cautiously  along  the  narrow 
ledge. 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  269 

The  night  had  precipitated  war.  That  he  and 
Elaine  would  be  called  upon  to  endure  war's  customary 
hazards,  hardships,  and  horrors  he  was  grimly  ready 
to  concede.  She  had  made  an  amazingly  fine  beginning. 
It  was  certainly  not  the  time  for  him  to  weaken  her 
now  by  misplaced  tenderness,  vastly  as  he  wished  to 
spare  her  shock  and  trial. 

The  crawling  objects  he  had  seen  from  above  had 
vanished  beyond  the  solid  wall  he  had  built  to  shut  out 
the  tiger.  All  the  way  down  to  this  barrier  he  made 
his  way,  Elaine  meanwhile  watching  from  the  cliff. 
There  were  dark,  irregular  blotches  here  and  there 
along  the  rocks,  and  on  these  he  scraped  a  hiding  film 
of  dust.  How  much  of  the  contents  of  the  gun  had 
been  expended  uselessly  against  the  wall  could  not  be 
determined  in  the  dark.  He  felt  assured  a  heavy  toll 
had  been  collected  on  the  trail,  if  not  in  killed,  at  least 
in  wounded  and,  doubtless,  disabled  men. 

The  cord  arranged  to  sound  his  alarm  had  been 
broken  in  the  charge.  He  found  the  ends,  repaired  the 
damage,  crept  further  along  to  scan  the  silent  and 
deserted  clearing,  then  promptly  returned  to  secure  a 
basket,  and  boldly  went  down  to  gather  extra 
fruit. 

"  I  wish  I  knew  where  to  get  some  meat,"  he  told 
Elaine,  as  he  came  with  his  plunder  to  the  terrace.  "  I 
don't  know  when  I  shall  have  another  hour  so  absolutely 
safe." 

But  beyond  removing  his  ladder  and  bridge,  he  per 
formed  no  more  labor  that  night.  It  was  not  yet  late. 
Elaine  was  too  excited  to  retire.  She  sat  with  him, 
nervously  listening  to  all  the  far  sounds  of  the  jungle, 
as  he  kindled  their  fire  to  a  blaze. 


270  AS  IT  WAS 

"  I  wonder  how  long  we  can  keep  it  up — go  on  as 
we  are  going  now,"  she  reflected  aloud  at  last. 
"  Mustn't  they  get  us  in  the  end?  " 

"  Well — not  till  we've  made  it  a  fair  exchange,  at 
least." 

"  There  must  be  a  dozen  of  them  about  us,  six  or 
more  to  our  one." 

"  There  were,  perhaps,  an  hour  ago,  but  hardly  so 
many  now.  One  shot  himself,  down  in  the  jungle,  gun 
ning  for  me,  while  the  cannon —  But  your  intuition 
was  accurate — a  second  boatload  did  arrive  to  join  the 
first."  He  added  a  brief  recital  of  what  he  had  seen 
and  what  had  taken  place  at  the  rotted  barque,  sparing 
the  details  which,  he  felt,  would  more  alarm  than  as 
sure  her,  respecting  "  Buli  "  and  the  drama  played  at 
the  clearing. 

"  Two  boatloads !  "  she  repeated.  "  What  reason 
could  they  possibly  have  for  coming  at  last  to  this 
island?  They  couldn't  have  known  we  were  here — at 
least  not  the  first  who  came." 

"  No,"  said  Grenville,  slowly,  reflecting  that  the  time 
for  his  revelation  was,  perhaps,  a  trifle  overdue, 
"  they  came,  I  believe,  to  secure  the  treasure  in  the 
cave." 

Elaine  glanced  up  at  him  quickly. 

"  The  treasure  you  have  joked  about  before?  " 

"  It  was  not  altogether  a  joke.  The  treasure  is  there 
—or,  at  least,  it  was,  before  I  removed  it  to  the 
passage." 

'Not  something  actually  valuable?     What  sort  of 
things  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Gold  and  precious  stones — a  lot  of  heavy  plunder 
— enough  of  the  jewels  alone  to  fill  a  hat." 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  271 

Elaine  slightly  gasped.  "  And  they  came  for  that? 
And  you  have  taken  it  out — have  hidden  it,  rather — 
and  you  think,  perhaps,  they  have  missed  it?  " 

"  No,  I  hardly  believe  they  have  been  to  the  cave  as 
yet.  It  isn't  theirs,  the  beggars !  Not  that  it's  of 
any  account  to  us,  but  I  don't  feel  sure  if  I  gave  it  up 
they'd  depart  and  leave  us  in  peace.  At  any  rate,  I 
don't  propose  they  shall  have  it." 

Elaine  was  silent  for  a  moment,  and  filled  with  wonder. 

"  How  did  you  manage  to  find  it  ?  " 

"  Entirely  by  accident.  I  pulled  down  a  stone  that 
concealed  a  secret  chamber,  where  someone  had  walled 
it  in.  It  has  doubtless  been  there  for  many  gen 
erations — as  these  fellows  have  probably  known." 

"  And  suppose  they  find  the  chamber  looted — may 
they  not  be  all  the  more  savage  and  eager  to  tear  us  to 
pieces?  " 

"  Well — I  should  say  their  ambition  in  that  respect 
has  already  about  reached  its  limit." 

Elaine  could  still  feel  her  heart  pounding  heavily  in 
her  bosom.  She  returned  to  her  original  query. 

"  If  we  go  on  like  this  for  a  week,  what  then?  Is 
there  anything  in  the  world  to  prevent  them  from  wait 
ing  and  waiting  and  waiting,  till "  She  did  not 

finish  her  sentence,  but  the  slightest  shudder  shook  her 
frame. 

"  They  were  goaded  to  action  to-night,"  said  Gren- 
ville,  hopefully.  "  They  may  feel  sufficiently  aggrieved 
to  return  for  more.  If  not — they  must  be  invited." 

"  But  surely  you'll  not  attempt  such  a  venture  as 
this  again  ?  " 

Grenville  rubbed  at  his  jaw.  "I  wish  it  might  be 
duplicated!  No  such  luck  is  likely.  But  I  feel  very 


272        AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING 

certain  we'd  both  rather  cash  in  fighting  than  to  starve 
like  rats  in  a  trap." 

"  Yes,"  Elaine  faltered,  in  her  quiet  way  of  cour 
age,  "  but — if  it  has  to  come — let's  try  to — receive  it 
here  together." 


CHAPTER  XXXIV 

DYAK    DARTS    AND    METHODS 

LONG-DISTANCE  fighting  began  an  hour  after  sunrise 
in  the  morning.  It  was  rather  a  long-distance  attack, 
since  Grenville,  armed  only  with  the  cannon,  was  power 
less  to  retaliate,  except  at  great  expense  of  ammunition, 
and  with  questionable  results. 

One  of  the  Dyaks  had  stationed  himself  on  the  cen 
tral  hill  of  the  island  with  some  sort  of  ancient  rifle. 
He  took  a  deliberate  shot  at  Sidney  the  moment  that 
unsuspecting  thorn  in  their  sides  chanced  to  make  an 
appearance  on  the  western  section  of  the  terrace.  The 
bullet  went  wide,  having  struck  among  the  rocks  some 
fifteen  feet  away,  arousing  Grenville's  contempt. 

Not  even  Elaine  was  greatly  frightened  by  this  over 
ture  from  the  enemy,  whose  marksman  could  have  but 
a  limited  view  of  that  unused  section  of  the  head 
land. 

But  the  first  small  dart  that  sped  lightly  up  from 
the  jungle,  to  drop  almost  at  Grenville's  feet,  was  an 
other  affair  altogether.  He  knew  the  thing  was  not 
only  sharp,  but  literally  soaked  with  poison.  It  had 
only  to  prick  through  the  skin  of  one's  hand,  or  even, 
perhaps,  through  the  thinness  of  their  garments,  to  per 
form  its  deadly  function.  The  merest  chance  shot  was 
thus  extremely  likely  to  achieve  what  the  rifleman  could 
not. 

273 


274  AS  IT  WAS 

These  hideous  little  messengers  of  agony  and  death 
were  rained  all  morning  on  the  terrace.  They  fell  near 
the  furnace  for  keeping  fire ;  they  dropped  by  the  door 
of  the  shelter.  A  few  even  sped  as  far  as  the  powder 
magazine,  where  Grenville  found  them  on  the  rock  and 
gravel  roof. 

Ample  protection  was  afforded  by  remaining  under 
cover,  but  this  was  not  altogether  wise  or  safe,  except, 
perhaps,  for  Elaine.  Grenville  felt  he  must  constantly 
watch  the  clearing.  In  the  light  of  day  his  alarm 
could  be  discovered  and  removed,  to  permit  an  attack 
too  sudden  to  be  opposed. 

He,  therefore,  constructed  a  bamboo  shield,  with 
which  to  protect  his  head  and  a  part  of  his  body,  as  he 
moved  about  among  the  rocks,  or  concealed  himself 
near  the  cannon. 

Not  more  than  twice  in  all  the  morning  did  he  see 
so  much  as  one  of  the  tubes — the  long,  slender  blow- 
guns  of  the  hidden  foe — while  this  silent  bombardment 
continued.  It  was  useless  to  think  of  slewing  about 
his  little  brass  piece  for  a  shot  at  mere  motionless 
jungle.  It  was  equally  impossible,  he  confessed,  to  ex 
cite  the  Dyaks  to  another  charge  until  they  should 
finally  make  up  their  minds  a  sudden  assault  would 
succeed. 

He  was  rather  surprised  they  had  made  no  attempt 
to  rush  him  at  earliest  dawn.  The  ledge  was,  however, 
very  narrow.  It  afforded  the  one  and  only  approach, 
and  the  dire  disaster  of  the  night  before  had  rendered 
far  more  cowardly  the  set  of  treacherous  and  utterly 
craven  murderers  these  boatmen  undoubtedly  were. 

All  afternoon  the  darts  continued  falling,  intermit 
tently — and  Grenville  made  no  response.  His  silence, 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  275 

indeed,  was  a  mystery  which  the  Dyaks  not  only  failed 
to  understand,  but,  likewise,  a  little  dreaded.  That 
he  had  no  rifle  they  were  thoroughly  convinced.  But 
that  roar  of  his  cannon  they  had  understood,  and  to 
hear  it  again  they  had  no  appetite.  Moreover,  its 
deadly  hail  and  detonation  had  come  so  unexpectedly, 
from  the  erstwhile  silent  terrace,  that  they  knew  not 
what  to  expect  concerning  the  future. 

Not  without  hopes  of  actually  slaying  some  of  the 
unknown  forces  on  the  crest  of  the  hill,  they  shot  an 
exceptional  number  of  their  darts  from  the  nearby 
thicket  as  the  sun  at  last  declined.  Grenville,  having 
at  length  established  what  he  thought  to  be  a  line  of 
the  little  missiles'  flight,  hastily  made  and  bound  up 
a  bomb  of  no  more  than  two  pounds'  weight. 

This,  with  a  fuse  too  short  for  ordinary  safety,  he 
finally  carried  to  the  westward  brink  with  one  of  his 
glowing  coals  of  fire. 

The  patient  rifleman,  waiting  on  his  hill,  immediately 
blazed  away,  as  before — and  missed  the  entire  bulk  of 
rock.  Grenville  paid  not  even  the  tribute  of  a  glance 
at  the  opposite  summit,  as  he  thrust  his  fuse  down 
upon  his  coal. 

The  hiss  of  the  powder  gave  him  a  start,  so  swiftly 
did  it  travel  towards  the  bomb.  With  all  his  might  he 
threw  the  thing  outward  at  the  shadowed  spot  whence 
he  thought  the  darts  were  flying. 

The  quick,  sharp  bark  and  the  patch  of  flame  be 
hind  the  design  of  a  palm  leaf,  came  like  a  clap  of 
thunder,  just  before  the  second  when  the  bomb  would 
have  struck  on  the  earth. 

A  yell  of  dismay,  or  anguish,  or  both,  and  a  scat 
tering  shower  of  shredded  greenery  supplied  the  only 


276  AS  IT  WAS 

report  of  results  that  Grenville  was  destined  to  re 
ceive.  The  flight  of  darts  was  ended.  A  few  hur 
ried  movements  in  the  thicket,  and  a  groan  that  Sid 
ney  felt  was  smothered,  were  the  only  signs  vouchsafed 
him  that  the  powder  had  not  been  cheaply  wasted. 

"  It's  a  poor  way  to  fight  the  hidden  devils,"  he  told 
Elaine,  as  he  came  once  more  to  the  shelter,  "  but  it 
may  possibly  serve  to  keep  them  further  away,  and 
force  them  to  different  tactics." 

It  certainly  had  this  latter  effect,  but  not  im 
mediately. 

There  was  no  attack  that  night,  and  no  disturbance 
in  the  jungle,  though  Sidney  descended  to  the  thicket 
and  returned,  not  only  with  more  fresh  fruit  he  had 
located  during  the  day,  but  also  with  a  small  wild  hog 
he  had  captured  in  one  of  the  older  traps  which  the 
Dyaks  had  failed  to  discover. 

The  morning  developed  nothing  aggressive,  save  the 
presence  of  the  marksman  on  hill  number  two  with  the 
rifle  that  Grenville  said  would  only  be  deadly  around  a 
corner.  Some  plan  of  patient  waiting  appeared  to 
have  been  matured  in  the  Dyaks'  mind,  since  one  of 
their  boats  issued  forth  at  last  from  its  place,  to  circle 
about  the  headland  like  a  vulture  atilt  for  prey,  while 
down  in  the  cover  of  the  greenery  other  natives  un 
doubtedly  lurked. 

They  affrighted  a  flock  of  parrots  here  and  there, 
from  time  to  time,  or  set  the  timid  monkeys  to  chatter 
ing  and  leaping  through  the  upper  foliage,  apprising 
Grenville  thus  that  the  thickets  were  haunted  below. 
No  darts  sped  upward  from  the  jungle  edge,  however, 
which,  Sidney  argued,  might  signify  that  the  men  with 
the  deadly  blow-guns  possibly  hoped  to  excite  over- 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  277 

confidence  in  the  keepers  of  the  terrace,  who  might 
finally  expose  themselves  to  fewer,  but  more  accurate, 
shots. 

In  his  forced  inactivity,  Grenville  once  more  waxed 
impatient.  He  felt  the  heat  of  the  blazing  sun,  which 
was  daily  growing  more  intense.  He  chafed  at  the 
thought  of  doing  nothing  while  their  water  supply  was 
steadily  diminishing,  and  the  Dyaks  apparently  planned 
to  subdue  him  by  thirst  or  famine.  He  dared  not  risk 
an  exposure  of  the  door  to  the  secret  passage  by  going 
for  water  to  the  cave  below,  especially  as  all  his  jugs 
were  porous  and  permitted  the  water's  escape  by  per 
colation,  whereas  the  supply  in  the  basins  below  might 
be  better  preserved  where  it  was. 

A  hundred  useless  plans  for  taking  the  war  to  the 
enemy's  camp  were  presented  to  his  mind,  always  to 
be  promptly  abandoned.  He  could  only  utilize  his 
artillery  for  defense,  and  could  not  even  hasten  an 
attack.  He  could  devise  no  means  of  ascertaining  how 
many  of  the,,  natives  had  either  been  killed  or  disabled. 
That  fully  ten  survived,  however,  he  felt  was  probable. 
One  or  two  at  the  most  was  all  the  little  cannon  would 
be  likely  to  rake  in  a  charge. 

Early  in  the  afternoon  there  was  ample  evidence 
of  exceptional  activity  down  in  the  heavy  jungle  growth, 
though  none  of  the  Dyaks  was  seen.  The  movements 
of  birds  and  animals,  as  well  as  the  swaying  of  branches 
or  trees  in  various  thickets  under  the  cliff,  sufficiently 
advertised  the  facts. 

Grenville  was  puzzled  to  understand  what  might  be 
occurring,  till,  at  length,  he  discovered  that  some  of 
the  fruit-bearing  trees,  on  which  he  had  counted  for 
supplies,  had  been  quietly  denuded  of  their  burdens,  or 


278  AS  IT  WAS 

even  altogether  destroyed.  One  large  banana  palm 
with  fruit  of  exceptional  quality,  he  even  beheld  as  it 
toppled  to  the  earth,  where  some  fiendish  head-hunter 
hacked  through  its  fibrous  trunk. 

Something  sank  in  his  breast  as  he  witnessed  this 
atrocious  vandalism,  and  realized  his  helplessness  to 
avert  the  oncoming  famine  of  himself  and  the  girl  in 
his  charge.  That  the  spring  would  be  guarded,  night 
and  day,  was,  of  course,  a  foregone  conclusion.  And 
not  even  a  plan  for  goading  the  Dyaks  to  another  at 
tack  came  in  working  order  to  his  brain. 

That  was  a  thoroughly  disheartening  day,  sultry, 
and  fraught  with  menace  from  all  directions,  as  the 
Dyak  craft  continued  to  hover  about  upon  the  sea,  and 
the  pillaging  continued  in  the  thickets.  All  the  work 
was,  moreover,  silent,  grim,  and  ominous,  with  once 
in  a  while  a  dart  spinning  swiftly  up  from  the  tangle 
below,  or,  from  time  to  time,  an  echoing  shot  coming 
from  the  opposite  height  with  a  bullet  singing  crazily 
by,  or  ripping  along  the  rocks. 

Sidney  made  no  attempt  to  descend  that  night, 
aware  of  the  folly  of  an  exploration  into  the  enemy's 
lines,  and  the  utter  impossibility  of  discovering  fruit 
in  a  nearer  portion  of  the  jungle.  His  entire  wild  hog 
had  been  roasted.  For,  perhaps,  two  days  the  meat 
might  keep,  in  the  coolness  of  the  passage  to  the  cave. 

Once  more  the  night  was  uneventful,  and  silent. 
Once  more  came  the  day,  and  a  blazing  hot  sun  poured 
unveiled  caloric  on  the  summit  of  the  terrace,  where 
sultriness  drank  up  the  water  that  oozed  through  the 
substance  of  the  jugs. 

"  I've  got  to  do  something,"  Sidney  declared.  "  We 
can't  go  on  like  this."  Elaine  was  already  denying  her- 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  279 

self  the  food  and  water  she  required.  "  I  shall  try  to 
invent  some  means  of  enticing  the  creatures  to  the  cave 
below — and,  perhaps,  explode  a  mine.  If  the  watch 
ers  on  that  hovering  ship  saw  me  disappear  in  the  hole, 
it  is  rather  more  than  likely  they  would  follow,  think 
ing  they  had  me  bottled." 

Elaine  always  manifested  interest,  no  matter  what  his 
scheme. 

"  But  how  could  that  possibly  be  managed,  now  that 
you  haven't  your  raft?  " 

"  I  think  by  a  ladder  and  platform,  the  ladder  an 
chored  as  we  had  it  the  day  I  came  up  with  your  as 
sistance,  and  the  platform  arranged  of  bamboo  poles, 
which  I  can  carry  down  through  the  passage.  It  will 
take  me  some  time  to  get  it  ready — but  something  has 
got  to  be  done." 

Elaine's  eyes  brightened  with  hope. 

"  Please  say  there  is  something  I  can  do  to  help," 
she  begged.  "  You  work  so  hard  and  constantly." 

"  There  will  be  rather  warm  employment  for  us 
both,"  he  assured  her,  in  his  former  way  of  cheer, 
"  particularly  towards  the  end." 

He  brought  his  neglected  ladder  to  the  shelter,  where 
Elaine  was  presently  as  busy  as  himself,  rewinding  the 
rungs  in  the  creepers,  and  testing  it  all  for  strength. 
Just  what  his  final  plan  would  be  she  did  not  under 
stand,  but  her  confidence  in  his  ability  and  resourceful 
ness  was  almost  wholly  without  bounds. 

The  usual  vigilance  was  not  for  a  moment  neglected, 
but  nothing  occurred  in  the  world  below,  save  a  repeti 
tion  of  the  former  day's  activity  on  the  part  of  the  un 
seen  natives.  -It  was  not  until  well  in  the  afternoon 
that  the  Dyaks'  plan  developed. 


280       AS  IT  WAS   IN  THE  BEGINNING 

A  breeze  had  sprung  up  from  the  north,  bringing 
gushes  of  heat  and  jungle  fragrance  across  the  summit 
of  the  hill.  Then,  at  length,  as  if  this  steadying  wind 
was  the  final  agency  for  which  they  had  waited,  the 
Dyaks  set  up  a  queer,  wild  chant  from  various  places 
in  the  thicket. 

A  few  minutes  later  a  cloud  of  smoke  arose  from  one 
of  their  centers.  This  was  followed  by  several  more. 
A  huge,  thick  smudge  was  soon  rising  upward  from 
the  earth,  and  rolling  on  the  breeze  to  envelop  all  the 
headland. 

The  Dyaks  had  gathered  enormous  quantities  of 
resinous  wood,  and  had  deliberately  fired  the  jungle! 


CHAPTER  XXXV 

A    BATTLE    IN    THE    SMOKE 

No  doubts  could  be  for  long  entertained  as  to  what 
the  smudge  was  expected  to  accomplish.  Its  dense  and 
suffocating  fumes  not  only  rendered  a  further  watch 
upon  the  clearing  or  the  trail  practically  useless,  but  it 
seemed  to  Grenville  highly  improbable  that  he  or  Elaine 
could  for  long  survive  the  pungent  reek  they  were  soon 
obliged  to  breathe. 

There  were  two  slight  elements  only  in  their  favor, 
One  was  the  passageway,  through  the  rock,  where 
clean  fresh  air  was  constantly  flowing  upward ;  the 
other  was  the  very  breeze  itself  that  swept  the  smoke 
upon  them.  It  frequently  split  the  cloud  of  black  and 
gray  upon  two  juttings  of  the  headland,  or  even  beat 
it  down  and  mingled  its  own  overheated  but  acceptable 
ozone  with  the  otherwise  stifling  fume. 

Anger  and  horror  together  had  lodged  in  Grenville's 
being.  That  the  Dyaks  would  soon  attempt  a  sneak 
upon  them,  under  cover  of  the  cloud,  he  felt  was  as  cer 
tain  as  that  hideous  death  must  be  their  portion,  were 
this  business  sufficiently  prolonged.  Even  retirement 
to  the  cavern  could  avail  them  nothing  but  a  short  de 
lay  of  the  fate  they  must  finally  face  when  their  food 
and  water  should  be  presently  exhausted. 

Under  cover  of  the  drifting  smudge,  he  sent  Elaine 
to  the  passage.  As  long  as  a  breath  remained  in  his 

281 


282  AS  IT  WAS 

lungs  he  resolved  he  would  not  desert  his  post,  where 
he  waited  for  attack  by  the  trail.  To  permit  the  fiends 
to  swarm  upon  the  terrace,  destroy  or  capture  his 
powder  and  the  gun,  and  prison  himself  and  Elaine 
in  the  narrow  gallery,  was  a  thought  that  aroused  him 
through  and  through. 

All  further  contemplation  of  his  scheme  for  alluring 
the  Dyaks  to  the  cavern  was  necessarily  abandoned. 
The  most  he  could  do  was  to  watch  as  before,  and,  per 
haps,  convey  his  bombs  and  stores  to  the  passage,  as 
time  and  his  highly  essential  vigilance  permitted. 

Back  and  forth  through  the  smoke  he  moved  upon 
the  hill,  seeking  the  better  air  that  came  occasionally 
through  the  billows,  and  listening  intently  for  the 
faintest  sound  from  the  always  ready  alarm.  When  an 
hour  had  gone  and  no  attack  had  developed,  his  heart 
underwent  a  new  despair.  He  began  to  doubt  that  the 
Fates  would  supply  him  an  opportunity  for  further  re 
taliation  on  the  fiends  below,  who  could  finally  overcome 
him  with  the  fumes. 

The  drift  of  smoke  was  intermittently  broken,  near 
the  trail,  where  apparently  a  current  of  wind  that  as 
sumed  a  rotation  as  it  rose  through  a  half-round  niche 
of  considerable  dimensions  in  the  wall,  swept  vertically 
upward  to  lift  the  billowing  cloud.  Thus  for  at  least 
a  portion  of  the  time  Grenville  could  glimpse  the  ledge 
behind  the  trail  where  besiegers  must  finally  pass. 

So  dense  became  the  reek,  however,  that  he  feared 
his  post  must  soon  become  insupportable.  There  was 
neither  time  nor  air  in  which  to  arrange  a  longer  fuse, 
which,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  would  be  too  long  for  ac 
curate  work  with  the  gun. 

He  knew  at  last  the  hour  was  nearing  sunset,  and 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  283 

silence  still  seemed  to  roll  with  the  smoke  across  the 
enveloped  terrace.  His  eyes  were  burningly  filled  with 
water;  his  head  had  begun  to  ache.  He  went  weakly 
over  towards  the  gallery,  intent  upon  breathing  a  little 
fresher  air  before  resuming  his  duties. 

Suddenly,  above  the  ringing  in  his  ears,  came  a  sound 
from  his  gate  alarm.  Its  deep  hollow  tone  was 
strangely  resonant  in  all  that  blanket  of  smoke.  He 
darted  back,  where  lay  his  bombs  and  the  short  fuse 
laid  to  the  cannon. 

The  smudge  had,  unfortunately,  fallen  like  a  pall, 
concealing  all  the  trail.  It  lifted  slightly,  however,  as  a 
fog  may  lift  over  waters,  revealing  one  half-seen  form 
upon  the  ledge. 

Then,  in  the  second  that  Grenville  laid  his  fire  to  the 
powder,  his  second  alarm,  from  the  frame  of  bamboo 
buckets,  hung  behind  him  on  the  wall,  rattled  out  its 
xylophonic  warning.  The  head-hunting  demons,  front 
and  rear,  were  practically  upon  him  ! 

He  fired  the  gun.  Its  orange  flame  shot  out  through 
the  smoke  in  ragged  spears,  mingling  the  fume  of  im 
perfect  powder  with  all  that  reek  from  the  jungle. 

A  gap  was  apparently  torn  in  the  rolling  cloud,  to  be 
filled  with  a  denser  substance.  Nothing  could  possibly 
be  discerned  where  the  charge  must  have  splattered  on 
the  wall.  There  were  cries  in  the  air,  but  whether  from 
pain,  or  the  Dyaks'  exultation,  Grenville  could  never 
have  told. 

Aware  that  the  demons  were  capable  of  sacrificing 
some  of  their  number  to  the  gun,  to  beget  its  discharge, 
and  thus  clear  the  way  for  concerted  attack  by  greater 
numbers,  Grenville  promptly  lighted  the  fuse  of  a  bomb 
and  hurled  it  from  him  down  the  trail. 


284.  AS  IT  WAS 

It  burst  in  the  smoke,  its  red  blot  of  fire  a  lurid  il 
lumination  in  the  black  and  gray  billows  from  the 
smudge.  Again  a  cry  succeeded,  this  one  unquestion 
ably  voicing  some  wretch's  mortal  agony  in  the  all- 
concealing  fume. 

Without  for  a  moment  pausing,  Grenville  plunged 
swiftly  through  the  drifting  envelope,  to  gain  the  brink 
at  the  rear.  He  caught  up  a  rock  as  he  stumbled  half 
blindly  onward,  and  blew  on  the  fire  of  his  brand. 

A  thicker  shroud  of  the  reek  revolved  about  him, 
halting  him  there  to  gasp  for  breath,  which  he  stooped 
in  the  hope  of  finding.  He  dropped  the  stone  as  a 
useless  burden.  Once  more  he  staggered  onward — 
and  blundered  against  a  Dyak,  more  blinded  than  him 
self! 

The  creature  had  scaled  the  wall  despite  the  bamboo 
framework  and  its  cups,  or  wooden  bells  1  He  and  Sid 
ney  were  instantly  locked  in  a  fierce  and  deadly  embrace ! 

A  battle  as  silent  as  it  was  swift  and  ferocious  was 
curtained  there  in  the  smoke. 

That  the  edge  was  near  was  a  knowledge  equally 
shared,  as  each  man  wrestled  in  desperate  violence  to 
overcome  his  antagonist  and  hurl  him  down  to  the  sea. 

More  by  instinct  than  design,  Grenville  had  paused 
to  grip  his  firebrand  hotly  between  his  teeth.  He  had 
seen  that  the  head-hunter  held  a  knife,  which  was  in 
stantly  turned,  as  the  boatman  writhed  in  Sidney's  arms, 
in  an  effort  to  sink  it  to  the  hilt. 

Grenville,  however,  clutched  the  wiry  wrist  with  all 
his  might,  and  tried  to  fetch  it  upward  for  a  quickly 
planned  maneuver.  It  slipped  from  his  grip,  and  to 
gether  he  and  the  native  froze  more  savage  than  before. 
The  Dyak  once  more  attempted  a  stabbing  pass,  and 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  285 

Sidney  again  caught  the  sinewy  hand,  in  a  clutch  that 
he  knew  must  fail. 

The  wrist  left  his  impotent  fingers  like  a  snake.  The 
whole  arm  writhed  backward  for  the  stroke.  Sidney 
abruptly  leaned  forward,  turning  his  head,  and  jabbed 
the  red-hot  firebrand  against  the  Dyak's  eye. 

With  a  shriek  of  pain  the  fellow  lurched  galvanically, 
to  stab  with  demoniacal  might.  But  the  blow  went 
wide,  in  his  agony,  and  when  Grenville  had  caught 
the  wrist  in  a  grip  that  a  serpent  could  scarcely  have 
broken,  he  instantly  laid  hold  of  it  with  his  second 
hand,  with  a  motion  incredibly  swift.  Then  turning 
his  back  with  the  skinny  brown  arm  across  his  shoulder, 
and  abruptly  stooping  forward,  Sidney  hoisted  the 
scoundrel  free  from  the  rocks,  on  his  shoulders,  and, 
moving  quickly  towards  the  cliff,  ended  the  fight  then 
and  there. 

He  broke  the  arm  thus  used  as  a  leverage  against 
the  Dyak's  weight,  and  literally  slammed  the  shudder 
ing  creature  down  on  the  rocks,  at  the  brink  of  the 
wall,  where  he  poised  but  a  moment  over  death. 

If  he  tried  to  writhe  backward  to  the  solid  ledge, 
the  effort  was  belated.  With  a  piercing  scream  he 
toppled  over,  flinging  out  his  broken  arm  in  a  gesture 
grotesque  and  disordered.  Then  he  suddenly  grayed, 
in  the  limbo  of  smoke,  and  shot  swiftly  downward  to  his 
doom. 

Grenville  still  bit  upon  the  branch  that  glowed  with 
fire.  He  searched  about  pantingly,  found  his  end  of 
fuse,  and  saw  the  powder  sputter  with  ignition.  He 
had  barely  stepped  back  when,  from  over  at  the  trail, 
came  a  sudden  and  tremendous  detonation. 

That  the  Dyaks  were  there  on  the  terrace,  after  all, 


286       AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING 

destroying  his  bombs,  was  the  one  thought  that  flashed 
through  the  smoke  in  his  brain,  as  his  own  sharp  ex 
plosion  shook  the  air  and  hollowed  huge  masses  from 
the  cliff. 

He  stumbled  and  groped  laboriously  across  the  un 
even  heaps  of  stone  to  reach  the  secret  passage,  where 
Elaine  must  be  crouching  in  fear.  In  his  ears  rang 
her  words  "  If  it  has  to  come,  let's  receive  it  here  to 
gether." 

Already  he  feared  her  one  grim  wish  had  been 
brutally  denied  her  in  this  hideous  pall  of  smoke.  He 
saw  a  figure,  dimly,  through  the  reek,  and  crouched  to 
take  revenge. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI 

THE  LAST  CUP  OF  WATER 

THE  figure  was  Elaine's.  Grenville  was  almost  upon 
her,  prepared  for  some  swift  and  terrible  deed  of 
retaliation,  when  a  swirl  in  the  shroud  that  enveloped 
them  both  revealed  her  standing  near  the  edge. 

She  still  held  a  glowing  fire-stick  in  her  hand,  as  she 
peered  through  the  billowing  cloud  of  smoke  where  she 
had  flung  an  ignited  bomb.  She  had  fled  from  her 
shelter,  in  desperate  dread,  lest  a  murderous  fate  over 
take  her  companion,  battling  alone  with  the  fiends.  She 
had  found  his  post  deserted,  and,  having  discerned  two 
figures  on  the  trail,  had  instantly  obeyed  an  impulse 
to  protect  the  hill  with  the  only  means  provided. 

She  uttered  a  cry  as  she  saw  Grenville  crouching 
behind  her,  raising  her  brand  like  a  weapon,  then 
sinking  in  relief. 

"You!"  he  said.  "Elaine!  I  might  have 
known ! " 

"  I  am  sure  they  are  coming  up  behind  us  there !  " 
she  answered.  "  I  know  I  heard  the  bamboo  buckets 
jangling!  Have  you  been  across  to  see?  " 

"  I  fired  the  bomb,"  he  answered.  "  Didn't  you 
know?" 

She  shook  her  head.  Her  ears,  that  had  been  so  finely 
attuned  to  catch  the  warning  from  the  rearward  cliff, 
had  received  or  recorded  no  impression  whatsoever  of 

287 


288  AS  IT  WAS 

the  hugcr  disturbance,  while  her  own  bomb's  colossal 
thunder  and  shock  engrossed  her  eager  attention. 

"Was  anyone  there?"  she  asked,  half  choking  with 
the  reek.  "  I  suppose  you  couldn't  see." 

"  I  saw  no  one  when  lighting  the  fuse,"  he  answered. 
"  What  was  happening  here?  " 

She  related  what  she  had  seen  and  what  she  had  done. 

"  I  hope  I  killed  them !  "  she  added,  weak  and  dizzy 
from  the  smoke.  "  But  they  probably  ran  away  !  " 

It  was  the  first  time  she  had  entertained  such  a 
feeling. 

He  urged  her  again  to  the  shelter,  where  he  coaxed 
her  to  drink,  and  bathe  her  face,  for  the  freshening 
and  soothing  influence  of  which  she  was  sadly  in  need. 
Returning,  then,  to  the  shelter  for  some  of  their  fruit, 
he  groped  his  way  down  along  the  trail — and  found 
that  one  or  the  other  of  the  bombs  had  so  shattered 
the  ledge,  as  to  render  it  useless  for  passing  till  the 
gap  could  in  some  way  be  bridged. 

They  were  safe  from  invasion  in  the  night — but  they 
were,  likewise,  marooned  on  the  hill !  It  was  hardly 
likely  the  Dyaks  would  attempt  to  construct  a  plat 
form  across  the  yawning  cavity,  under  the  shadow  of 
the  gun,  while,  as  for  themselves,  descent  at  present 
was  entirely  out  of  the  question. 

Meantime  the  smoke  was  unabated,  if  it  was  not,  in 
deed,  more  dense  and  choking  than  before.  All  the 
man's  characteristic  doggedness  of  purpose  was  re 
quired  in  preparations  for  the  night.  The  sun  was 
down ;  the  brief  and  usually  comforting  twilight  seemed 
entirely  absent,  as  darkness  was  hastened  by  the  fumes. 

Back  and  forth  from  the  now  deserted  shelter  to  the 
passage  Sidney  groped  time  after  time,  fetching  her 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  289 

couch  and  robe  for  Elaine,  and  their  meager  supplies 
for  dinner.  The  gallery  then  became  her  boudoir,  sanc 
tified  to  her  uses.  Outside  on  the  ledge,  where  at  least 
a  breath  of  air  trailed  upward  from  the  cave  beneath, 
to  escape  at  the  door  and  a  little  dilute  the  stifling 
smoke,  he  finally  made  his  sentinel  post  to  pass  the  long 
session  of  darkness. 

He  was  roused  repeatedly  in  the  night  by  the  sheer 
discomfort  of  his  resting-place,  and  the  smoke  that 
smarted  his  nostrils.  All  the  long  hours  through  the 
dull  red  flames  glowed  fitfully,  down  through  the  jungle. 
He  was  tempted,  times  without  number,  to  throw  out  his 
platform  to  the  tree  and  descend  with  a  bomb,  to  hurl 
at  some  group  of  the  demons,  there  in  the  nether  gloom 
of  the  Hades  they  created.  He  curbed  his  impatience 
rigidly,  however,  and  crowded  the  impulse  back.  That 
one  or  two  natives  at  the  most  maintained  the  fires  was 
a  supposition  not  to  be  ignored.  The  possible  results 
of  such  an  enterprise  were  incommensurate  with  the  risk 
that  must  be  incurred. 

Despite  his  uneasiness  of  mind  and  body  he  slept  for 
a  time  between  midnight  and  dawn  as  the  mere  result 
of  overstrain  and  the  weariness  accumulated  for  sev 
eral  days. 

For  a  brief  time  after  sunrise  the  northerly  breeze 
abated,  permitting  the  smoke  to  ascend  more  nearly 
straight.  The  headland  was  thereby  freed  and  sweet 
ened,  only,  however,  to  be  re-enveloped  later,  and  veiled 
from  the  other  features  of  the  island. 

Grenville  took  advantage  of  the  respite  to  make  an 
examination  of  the  cliff  at  the  rear  of  the  camp.  It 
had  been  so  shattered,  where  the  bomb  shook  down  the 
disintegrated  tufa,  that  its  ascent  would  never  again  be 


290  AS  IT  WAS 

attempted.  The  framework  of  bamboo  cups  was  gone. 
There  was  nothing  below  to  indicate  whether  or  not  a 
Dyak  boat  might  have  been  swamped  by  falling  rock. 

The  cavity  torn  in  the  regular  trail  was  rather  more 
exaggerated  than  diminished  by  the  morning's  revela 
tions.  Grenville  was  certain  the  enemy  would  hardly  haz 
ard  bridging  the  gap  while  they  thought  a  single  ounce 
of  punishment  remained  upon  the  terrace.  He  was  not 
altogether  certain  he  should  not  construct  a  bridge 
himself,  since  only  when  they  charged  upon  his  posi 
tion  could  he  hope  to  decimate  the  blood-desiring  sav 
ages,  who  must  still  remain  in  menacing  numbers  on  the 
island. 

The  little  brass  cannon  was  once  more  charged, 
though  its  use  was  hardly  likely.  The  wind  and  the 
smoke  resumed  their  steady  flow  across  and  about 
the  hill  before  Elaine  appeared. 

She  was  pale  and  plainly  weary,  when  at  length  she 
emerged  from  the  passage.  Her  sleep  had  been  broken, 
and  haunted  by  dreams  of  countless  new.  atrocities  com 
mitted  by  the  demons  below.  Her  courage  was  phenom 
enal.  She  made  no  complaint,  but  attempted  a  smile 
and  a  cheery  outlook  on  the  day. 

Grenville  was  wrung,  more  than  comforted,  at  the 
wistful  effort  she  was  making  to  sustain  her  slender 
hope  and  encourage  his  own  flagging  spirit.  When  he 
found  that  hardly  a  pint  of  water  remained  in  the  jugs 
he  had  thought  would  supply  them  at  least  for  a  couple 
of  days,  his  despair  for  Elaine  became  intensely  acute, 
and  his  heart  began  dully  to  ache.  Two  of  the  clay 
receptacles  had  developed  tiny  cracks,  perhaps  from 
the  jarring  of  explosions,  while  a  third  had  toppled 
over  and  spilled  its  precious  contents  after  having  been 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  291 

placed  in  the  passage.  Percolation  and  usage  had 
drained  the  others  inevitably — and  the  day  was  begin 
ning  with  heat  and  stifling  reek. 

Much  of  the  fruit  that  Sidney  had  gathered  was  now 
unfit  for  use,  and  was,  therefore,  thrown  away.  By 
way  of  conserving  the  water  supply,  they  made  a  break 
fast  of  paw-paws  and  bananas  only,  though  the  meat 
remaining  from  the  previous  day  was  still  acceptable. 

Grenville  descended  to  the  cavern  as  soon  as  this  scant 
and  oversweet  meal  was  concluded.  He  bore  two  jugs, 
to  be  filled  from  the  basins  in  the  rock.  When  the 
light  from  the  blazing  torch  he  held  above  his  head 
dimly  outlined  but  one  of  the  pools  he  had  seen  on  a 
former  occasion,  he  realized  that  some  insignificant 
fissure  must  have  resulted  from  his  blast,  and  permitted 
the  other  pools  to  trickle  to  the  sea. 

He  filled  his  jugs  with  the  utmost  care,  scooping  up 
the  water  at  the  deepest  hole  to  leave  all  unclean  sedi 
ment  undisturbed.  That  the  pool  must  soon  succumb 
to  evaporation  was  obvious.  Vaguely  he  wondered 
which  might  last  the  longer,  this  underground  well,  or 
the  breath  in  his  body  and  Elaine's. 

Even  the  sight  and  touch  of  the  precious  water  ex 
cited  his  mouth  to  thirst.  With  the  jugs  both  full  and 
set  carefully  aside,  he  sprawled  out  eagerly,  flat  on  the 
rocks,  for  a  deep  and  satisfying  draught. 

Hardly  had  the  water  reached  his  palate,  however, 
when  he  lifted  his  head  with  a  sound  like  a  stifled  groan. 
The  pool  was  connected  with  the  tides — the  liquid  there 
was  brine! 

He  rose  to  his  knees,  with  his  fist  before  his  eyes, 
his  whole  body  tense  and  rigid  with  his  soul's  recoil 
from  the  visions  abruptly  shadowed  in  his  mind.  The 


292  AS  IT  WAS 

cordon  about  the  helpless  girl  was  so  hideously  com 
plete!  It  seemed  like  the  bitterness  of  her  doom  that 
he  tasted  on  his  tongue. 

It  appeared  so  useless  now  to  struggle.  How  he 
should  take  this  latest  news  to  the  uncomplaining  com 
rade  of  his  destiny  was  more  than  he  could  determine. 
Wild  thoughts  of  offering  all  the  treasure  he  had  found, 
as  ransom  for  Elaine  at  least,  possessed  his  mind,  as  he 
conjured  up  the  final,  triumphant  approach  of  the 
Dyaks,  whom  the  two  famished  keepers  of  the  terrace 
would  at  length  be  no  longer  able  successfully  to 
resist. 

He  likewise  thought  of  offering  himself,  could  Elaine 
be  finally  spared.  But  through  it  all  he  was  sickeningly 
conscious  that  neither  course  could  avail  with  these 
treacherous  fiends.  A  human  head  was  more  to  them 
than  treasures  of  earth  or  heaven.  Moreover,  the  mur 
derous  savages  had  already  paid  a  heavy  toll,  and 
would  smart  in  their  blood  for  revenge. 

There  could  be  no  bargain  made  with  such  an  enemy, 
all  but  victorious  already,  and  certain  of  final  success. 
They  should  never  find  that  treasure,  however,  Gren- 
ville  swore,  if  he  had  to  sink  it  in  the  sea!  And  as 
for  a  final  triumph — there  were  many  ways,  in  a  last 
extremity,  whereby  at  least  the  unspeakable  horrors, 
certain  to  follow  their  capture  alive,  could  be  escaped 
by  both  himself  and  Elaine. 

Wild  rage  possessed  him,  kneeling  there,  as  he 
thought  of  the  merciless  head-hunters  smoking  them 
out  on  the  hill,  and  waiting  as  loathsomely  as  vultures 
for  the  slowly  approaching  end.  Mad  plans  for  sink 
ing  their  anchored  boats,  for  loading  himself  with  torch 
and  bombs,  to  charge  like  a  Nemesis  through  their  ranks, 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  293 

or  for  luring  them  up  to  some  deadly  mine,  ranged  er 
ratically  through  his  brain. 

He  thought  of  attempting  a  condensation  of  sea 
water  to  provide  Elaine  with  drink.  He  was  swiftly 
possessed  by  a  plan,  even  more  absurd,  of  making  a 
float  with  his  bamboo  stems,  and  sailing  away  with 
Elaine  on  board,  under  cover  of  the  darkness. 

He  arose  at  last,  dizzy,  with  the  vortex  of  imprac 
tical  suggestions  revolving  in  his  mind.  He  emptied 
his  jugs  and  strode  to  the  mouth  of  the  cavern,  look 
ing  out  on  smoke  and  sea.  The  tide  was  low.  Whole 
colonies  of  mussels  clung  there  below  him  on  the  rocks. 

They  were  food !  The  thought  came  home  to  him 
swiftly — only  to  be  immediately  succeeded  by  the  reali 
zation  they  were  salt,  and  would  make  for  greater  thirst. 

He  thought  of  the  wail  that  had  formerly  haunted 
the  island — a  friendly,  invaluable  phenomenon  that  had 
not  been  repeated  for  days.  He  thought  of  the  raft 
he  had  rowed  with  such  ease  when  he  came  here  to 
blow  out  the  ledge.  Was  it  floating  still  in  the  estu 
ary's  mouth,  or  had  some  of  the  Dyaks  destroyed  it? 

The  estuary ! — could  he  only  reach  its  tepid  pool, 
creep  towards  its  source,  fill  one  of  his  jugs,  and  re 
turn  to  gladden  Elaine !  His  busy  mind  was  instantly 
working  on  the  various  steps  by  which  he  might  suc 
ceed  in  lashing  together  some  sort  of  raft,  for  a  night 
excursion  to  the  tiny  rill  that  fed  the  vine-surrounded 
inlet  where  the  water  was  not  brine. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII 

A    BREATHLESS    MARGIN 

GRENVII/LE  returned  for  his  jugs  and  the  torch,  im 
patient  to  be  employed.  The  clay  receptacles  were 
useless  on  the  hill,  but  he  carried  them  back  to  the  gal 
lery,  to  leave  them  on  the  floor.  The  lower  rock-and- 
wattle  barrier  he  carefully  readjusted  to  its  place,  and 
secured  with  the  bar  of  wood. 

"  The  water  below  is  rather  poor,"  he  informed 
Elaine,  when  he  once  more  rejoined  her  above.  "  I 
believe  I  can  reach  a  supply  considerably  better  by 
building  a  bamboo  platform  that  will  give  me  access  to 
a  larger  and  fresher  pool." 

Elaine  was  thinking  of  another,  more  personal 
danger. 

"  Do  you  think  these  creatures  have  visited  the 
cave?  " 

"  If  they  have,  they  left  no  signs." 

"  You  are  not  afraid  they  may  go  there  soon — and 
discover  the  end  of  this  passage?  " 

Grenville  shook  his  head.  "  I  only  wish  they  would 
try — every  man  Jack  of  them  hunting  there  at  once! 
If  it  weren't  for  this  smoke,  I  should  try  to  lure 
them  in ! " 

Glad  of  an  occupation,  no  matter  how  forlorn  the 
hope  it  afforded,  he  went  promptly  to  work  fetching  all 
of  the  largest  bamboo  stems  from  his  generous  supply, 
together  with  wood  for  fuel  and  many  lengths  of 

294 


AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING        295 

creeper.  By  the  time  these  various  transfers  were 
complete,  he  had  left  but  little  of  their  meager  pos 
sessions  in  or  about  the  former  camp. 

Bombs,  fuses,  torch-wood,  and  much  of  his  extra 
powder  he  now  proceeded  to  store  along  the  wall,  and 
in  a  niche  of  the  gallery,  where  they  should  neither  ob 
struct  the  passage  under  foot,  nor  yet  be  exposed  to 
possible  accident  from  necessary  fire.  The  terrace  con 
tinued  to  be  wrapped  in  smoke,  as  on  the  previous  day. 
Instructing  Elaine  to  call  him  instantly,  should  any 
attempt  be  made  by  the  Dyaks  to  bridge  the  gap  on 
the  trail,  he  now  began  the  laborious  task  of  carrying 
one  after  another  of  the  bamboo  stems  down  the  passage 
to  the  cave. 

The  stems  were  large,  some  of  them  fully  six  inches 
through  at  the  butt,  and  while  they  were  never  heavy, 
yet  the  twelve  or  more  feet  of  length  to  which  he  had 
reduced  them  made  their  transfer  through  the  narrow 
and  angular  gallery  an  awkward  and  troublesome 
maneuver,  with  only  a  torch  for  light. 

He  had  made  up  his  mind  that  six  of  these  stems, 
lashed  together  in  pairs,  or  even  laid  side  by  side,  and 
slightly  separated,  would  complete  a  float  on  which  he 
could  readily  find  sufficient  buoyancy  for  himself  and 
a  couple  of  water  jugs,  more  especially  as  he  thor 
oughly  intended  to  stretch  himself  out  flat,  full  length, 
upon  it  while  moving  about  the  shore.  He  felt,  more 
over,  it  must  be  so  light  he  could  not  only  launch  it 
from  the  cave,  but  even  withdraw  it  inside  again,  should 
danger  so  require. 

Fortunately,  he  reflected,  none  of  the  stems  was 
split.  Each  comprised  a  set  of  water-tight  compart 
ments  that  a  load  of  double  his  avoirdupois  could  hardly 


296  AS  IT  WAS 

sink  beneath  the  surface.  If  he  found  that  four  of 
the  lengths  would  answer  as  well  as  six,  he  would  cer 
tainly  use  no  more. 

As  he  stumbled  and  edged  his  way  downward  once 
again,  with  the  last  of  his  load  colliding  here  and 
there  along  the  wall,  he  thought,  perhaps,  it  might  be 
possible  to  test  the  float  in  the  salty  pool  that  remained 
in  the  basin  of  the  cavern.  Could  this  be  done,  much 
time  would  be  saved,  and  no  risk  of  being  discovered  at 
his  work  need  be  incurred. 

For  his  greater  convenience  in  assembling  materials 
and  tools,  he  placed  both  his  torch  and  final  burden 
for  a  moment  within  the  passage,  when  he  came 
once  more  to  the  cave.  Three  of  the  bamboo  stems  were 
then  in  the  cavern  proper,  while  all  of  the  creeper  and 
the  other  essentials  remained  on  the  gallery  floor.  He 
paused  to  wipe  his  brow,  for  he  was  sweating.  His 
mouth  was  dry  with  a  growing  thirst  that  refused  to 
be  forgotten. 

He  had  barely  stepped  out  to  survey  the  space 
for  the  likeliest  site  convenient  to  his  needs,  when, 
abruptly,  a  human  voice  sent  a  murmurous  echo  through 
the  hollow  tomb.  A  sharp  command  immediately  fol 
lowed — all  in  some  barbaric  tongue.  But  before  the 
noise  of  something  dully  scraping  on  the  outside  ledge 
could  add  its  confirmation  to  the  somewhat  belated 
alarm,  Grenville  was  certain  that  a  Dyak  boat  had  come 
to  the  cavern,  and  its  crew  were  about  to  land. 

Instantly  pouncing  upon  the  nearest  length  of  his 
precious  bamboo,  he  darted  with  it  to  the  passage.  The 
second  stem  struck  on  the  inner  wall,  not  only  delaying 
his  movements,  but  sounding  a  thud  that  he  felt  must 
be  heard  through  all  the  vast  bulk  of  the  hill. 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  297 

Yet  he  dared  not  either  betray  the  fact  he  had 
been  in  the  cave,  or  lose  that  final  pole.  Once  more,  as 
he  heard  the  Dyaks  coming,  and  even  beheld  a  shadow, 
preceding  its  owner  to  the  place,  he  darted  silently 
out  at  his  door  to  lay  hold  of  the  last  remaining 
stem. 

He  was  certain  its  end  must  be  plainly  seen,  as  the 
Dyaks  now  rose  above  the  ledge.  A  sound  that  he  made 
seemed  incredibly  loud — and  his  door  was  out  where 
the  boatmen's  torch  must  play  a  red  light  upon  it ! 

He  stumbled  across  his  materials,  now  congesting 
his  narrow  space.  He  thrust  out  an  arm,  laid  hold 
of  his  door,  and  had  barely  drawn  it  across  the  opening 
when  the  glare  of  the  torch  the  Dyaks  held  sent  red 
rays  in  upon  him. 

Not  another  move  could  he  make  without  betraying 
his  presence  near  at  hand.  To  adjust  the  barrier  sol 
idly  in  place  might  readily  prove  fatal.  To  leave  it 
loose,  a  palpable  sham  where  all  should  appear  as  solid 
wall,  was  scarcely  less  of  a  risk. 

Holding  it  firmly,  lest  it  slip,  and  peering  breathlessly 
out  through  the  chink  which  it  failed  by  an  inch  to 
cover,  Grenville  beheld  three  half -naked  forms,  in 
credibly  magnified  and  diabolized  not  only  by  the  torch 
they  held,  but  also  by  the  shadows  they  cast  upon  the 
rocks,  and  the  general  aspect  of  the  region,  black  as 
Inferno.  Three  thinner,  more  furtive  fiends  of  the 
nether  abyss  would  have  been  hard,  indeed,  to  imagine. 
In  the  tallest  Sidney  recognized  the  chief. 

As  they  turned  about  to  scan  the  wall,  and  the  breach 
he  had  made  with  his  explosion,  the  whites  of  their 
eyes  and  the  gleam  of  their  teeth  rendered  all  of  their 
faces  strangely  hideous,  with  the  yellowish  glare 


298  AS  IT  WAS 

projecting  them  indistinctly  against  the  ebon  of  the 
tomb. 

That  their  keen,  malicious  eyes  must  instantly  dis 
cover  the  wall's  decided  imperfection,  where  the  gallery 
door  was  askew,  seemed  to  Grenville  inescapable.  They 
motioned  towards  him,  and  down  at  the  floor,  in  mani 
fest  wonder  that  the  place  was  no  longer  filled  with 
water.  Their  voices  were  low.  They  spoke  as  if  with  a 
certain  awe  in  which  the  place  was  held. 

It  seemed  to  Grenville  they  would  never  go  about 
their  business.  His  muscles  ached  with  the  unaccus 
tomed  strain  put  upon  them  to  support  the  heavy 
door.  How  long  he  could  stand  there,  making  no 
sound,  and  permitting  no  movement  of  the  barrier,  was 
a  question  he  could  not  answer.  If  only  his  cleaver  had 
not  been  dropped  around  the  bend,  beside  his  torch,  he 
would  almost  have  dared  spring  out  on  the  unsuspect 
ing  Dyaks  to  brain  them  where  they  stood ! 

At  thought  of  his  torch,  redly  glowing,  in  beyond, 
he  sweated  anew,  convinced  that  as  soon  as  the  boat 
men  grew  accustomed  to  the  darkness  of  the  cavern, 
these  torch  rays  must  impinge  upon  their  vision,  and 
instantly  divulge  the  secret  of  the  passage  to  the  top. 

One  of  the  Dyaks  now  approached  even  closer  than 
before.  Savagely  determined  he  would  slay  the  man, 
should  he  raise  a  hand,  or  otherwise  give  the  slightest 
intimation  that  the  door  was  seen  at  last,  Sidney  grew 
hot  in  his  farthest  pulse,  and  became  as  tense  as  a 
tight-coiled  spring  as  he  steadied  to  leap  from  the 
place. 

But  the  man  in  command  now  grumbled  another  of 
his  orders.  The  fellow  so  near  discovery  and  death 
turned  slowly  about,  made  one  more  gesture  towards  the 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  299 

shattered  ledge,  and  followed  the  other  where  they  made 
their  way  across  the  uneven  floor. 

Until  they  had  passed  to  a  second  ridge,  where  their 
feet  disturbed  a  few  loose  fragments  that  rattled  down 
towards  the  base,  Grenville  made  riot  the  slightest  move 
to  alter  his  position.  Then  cautiously,  without  a 
sound,  he  adjusted  the  door  to  its  proper  place  and 
secured  it  with  the  bar. 

He  still  had  a  chink  through  which  to  peer,  but  he 
first  moved  back  to  his  blazing  torch  and  smothered  its 
light  on  the  rocks.  When  he  once  more  groped  his 
way  to  the  tiny  opening,  the  Dyaks  had  come  to  the 
rifled  chamber.  He  could  hear  their  exclamations  of 
disgust  and  anger,  but  only  their  torch  could  be  seen. 

Aware  they  might  still  return  to  his  wall  and  dis 
cover  the  one  remaining  retreat  where  Elaine  was  even 
remotely  secure,  Grenville  was  seized  with  an  irresistible 
impulse  to  destroy  the  fiends  on  the  instant,  if  such  a 
denouement  could  be  rendered  possible. 

He  turned  about  to  grope  his  way  upward  and  secure 
a  bomb  as  swiftly  as  the  darkness  would  permit.  Over 
the  basket  of  treasure,  some  time  since  deposited  there 
by  the  wall,  he  blundered,  and  fell  to  his  knees.  The 
thing  was  in  the  way.  He  took  it  up  impatiently  and 
carried  it  well  up  the  passage  to  one  of  the  broadest 
galleries,  where  he  placed  it  again  on  the  floor. 

With  one  of  the  smallest  of  his  bombs,  and  carrying 
one  of  his  firebrands  only  for  a  torch,  he  once  more 
descended,  feeling  his  way  along  the  wall,  eager  to 
regain  the  lower  entrance,  lest  it  might  be  already  dis 
covered.  He  had  been  delayed  in  securing  the  brand, 
without  which  his  bomb  was  useless.  He  had  told 
Elaine  his  measures  were  only  of  defense. 


300        AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING 

They  were  hardly  even  that.  When  he  came  to  the 
door  he  could  see  no  torch,  for  the  Dyaks  had  gone,  in 
new  exasperation,  and  their  voices  echoed  back  from  the 
ledge.  The  impulse  to  rush  out  thus  belatedly,  ignite 
his  fuse,  and  hurl  his  engine  of  destruction  upon  them, 
or  their  boat,  was  one  he  curbed  with  difficulty,  at  the 
dictates  of  sober  sense.  For  a  dozen  reasons  the  ma 
neuver  might  fail  to  destroy  the  murderous  trio.  And 
should  one  escape  to  advertise  the  fact  he  was  some 
how  concealed  in  the  cavern,  no  possible  cleverness 
could  avail  to  protect  Elaine  or  himself. 

Should  a  larger  number  come  to  the  cave —  But 

he  knew  it  was  hardly  likely,  now,  that  even  a  few  would 
return.  If  the  Dyaks  had,  as  he  felt  convinced,  con 
cluded  that  the  open  niche  meant  that  the  tomb  had 
been  pillaged,  that  the  treasure  was  gone,  either  taken 
by  himself  or  another,  they  would  have  no  conceivable 
reason  left  for  courting  disaster  here  again.  For  un 
less  they  should  dare  approach  the  place  by  night,  it  was 
only  under  cover  of  the  rolling  smoke  they  would  risk 
attack  from  above. 

He  even  thought  of  hastening  back  to  the  terrace 
now  to  drop  a  bomb  upon  them.  It  was  only  a  recol 
lection  of  the  all-engulfing  smoke  that  halted  this  in 
tent.  Instead  he  dislodged  the  wooden  bar,  removed 
the  door  to  his  secret  gallery,  and  crept  out  to  glide 
to  the  breach  in  the  ledge  for  a  possible  view  of  the 
boatmen. 

Only  the  disappearing  end  of  their  craft  was  shown 
through  the  fumes  that  veiled  the  tide.  It  was  Gren- 
ville's  useful  catamaran,  as  he  instantly  discerned.  A 
new  resentment  burned  in  his  blood,  but  left  him  as 
helpless  as  before. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII 

GRENVILLE'S  DESPERATE  CHANCE 

AT  noon  Elaine  reluctantly  consumed  the  last  re 
maining  drop  of  water.  Grenville  had  taken  a  sip, 
and  pretended  to  take  a  swallow.  To  refuse  it  longer, 
Elaine  quite  clearly  comprehended,  would  be  but  to  see 
it  ooze  away  through  the  jar,  to  be  drunk  by  the  merci 
less  heat. 

"  I  shall  get  a  new  supply,"  said  Sidney,  attempting 
an  accent  of  cheer,  "  but  I'd  rather  avoid  using  that 
of  the  cavern,  for  fear  it  may  not  be  wholesome." 

Elaine,  in  her  way  of  divining  the  truth,  was  only 
partially  deceived.  She  felt  that  the  water  below  in 
the  cave  was  wholly  unfit  for  consumption.  She  knew 
that  if  anything  even  remotely  possible  could  be  done 
to  refill  their  vessels,  Sidney  would  have  filled  them  long 
before. 

She  made  no  discouraging  comments,  however,  despite 
the  fact  her  hope  was  succumbing  to  despair.  The 
smoke  continued  to  roll  in  sullen  clouds  across  and  about 
the  terrace ;  the  sun  beat  down  through  it  redly,  soak 
ing  the  rock  in  caloric,  that  sank  to  the  gallery  itself. 

The  noonday  meal  had  been  slight  and  unrefreshing 
— a  bit  of  fruit,  too  warm  and  too  ripe  for  relish  on  the 
palate,  and  a  few  odd  scraps  of  the  meat.  It  was 
water  that  both  insistently  craved,  and  for  which  they 
grew  fevered  and  distressed. 

301 


302  AS  IT  WAS 

The  smoldering  brands  in  the  furnace  of  rocks 
could  not  be  permitted  to  die  away  in  ash.  Elaine  had 
undertaken  the  maintenance  of  this,  their  altar  spark, 
which  rarely  rose  to  a  flame.  She  was  safe  enough  to 
come  and  go  from  the  passage  entrance  to  the  nearby 
furnace  Grenville  had  moved  to  facilitate  her  duties, 
but  the  smoke  seemed  far  more  stifling  and  hot  than  it 
had  the  previous  day,  while,  with  headache,  thirst,  and 
a  heaviness  in  all  her  weary  being,  the  endlessly  cheer 
ful  and  courageous  little  companion  of  Grenville's  mad 
dening  ordeal  felt  ready  to  drop  and  rise  no  more. 

Again  at  his  task  of  constructing  a  float  that  should 
bear  him  from  the  cavern  to  the  inlet  formed  by  the 
spring,  Sidney  toiled  with  no  mercy  to  himself  in  the 
workshop  far  down  in  the  rocks.  He  felt  at  times  he 
must  gulp  down  even  the  water  of  the  sea,  so  parched 
was  his  throat,  and  so  craving  was  his  system. 

At  five  o'clock  his  bamboo  raft  was  completed,  even 
with  braces  for  his  jugs.  It  had  also  been  tried  in  the 
basin  of  the  cave,  and  made  finally  ready  for  launching. 
But  the  tide  would  be  low  till  eight.  His  blast  had 
made  the  water  more  approachable  than  formerly,  yet 
to  fight  his  way  against  a  powerful  current  would  over 
tax  his  strength.  In  any  event  he  must  wait  for  the 
darkness  of  night. 

He  returned  to  Elaine,  and  although  he,  too,  was 
weary  to  the  bone,  her  patient  endurance  of  suspense 
and  suffering  aroused  him  to  a  state  of  anguish  in 
which  no  exhausting  task  would  have  seemed  too  great 
for  him  to  undertake.  He  was  wrung  by  her  wistful  at 
tempt  at  a  smile. 

'  The  day  is  nearly  done,"  she  said.     "  The  night  is 
sure  to  be  cooler." 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  303 

It  was  considerably  cooler,  but  scarcely  more  fresh, 
since  the  smoke  appeared  to  pour  in  even  vaster  vol 
umes  from  the  greenery  below.  That  the  Dyaks  were 
keeping  strict  watch  on  the  water  supply  there  could 
be  no  reason  to  doubt.  From  time  to  time  a  weird 
bit  of  chanting  arose  from  that  fume-creating  garden 
that  had  once  been  so  fair  as  to  win  from  Elaine  the 
prettiest  name  she  knew. 

Grenville  felt  certain,  in  fact,  the  boatmen's  camp 
had  been  made  about  the  inlet  or  the  spring.  The 
short  stretch  of  beach  where  he  and  Elaine  had  landed, 
and  where  he  had  later  made  a  bower  of  the  trees,  would 
be  certain  to  attract  these  half-amphibious  savages, 
though  their  boats  were  moored  behind  the  opposite  hill. 

For  a  time  he  wondered  if  he  might  not  be  more  wise 
to  pass  entirely  around  the  island,  to  approach  the  pool 
of  fresh  water  from  below.  But  reflecting  that  vari 
ous  currents  of  the  tide  would  buffet  and  beset  him,  in 
addition  to  which  he  must  run  the  gauntlet  past  the 
Dyak  boats,  he  surrendered  the  suggestion  without  de 
lay,  and  impatiently  awaited  the  tide. 

Three  times  he  went  down  the  passage,  torch  in 
hand,  to  examine  the  stages  of  the  water.  At  length 
he  bethought  him  of  two  short  scoop-like  paddles,  to 
assist  in  propelling  his  craft,  and  feverishly  set  about 
their  construction. 

They  were  done  in  less  than  half  an  hour,  since  they 
consisted  merely  of  two  half-sections  of  bamboo  cylin 
der,  lashed  to  a  pair  of  handles. 

Elaine  was  aware  he  was  making  ready  for  more 
than  an  ordinary  adventure,  as  she  watched  him  with 
her  wide  and  lustrous  eyes. 

"  Perhaps  relief  may  come  to-morrow,"   she  finally 


304  AS  IT  WAS 

observed.  "  You  are  quite  exhausted.  Might  you  not 
be  wiser  to  rest  to-night?  We  can  get  along,  I  am 
sure." 

But  even  her  voice  made  a  rasp  in  her  throat,  so  dis 
tressed  was  her  system  for  water. 

"  I  need  a  bit  of  change,"  he  said.  "  It  is  certain  to 
do  me  good." 

With  a  touch  of  his  former  brusquencss,  he  presently 
bade  her  seek  her  couch,  during  the  time  he  expected  to 
be  gone,  and  vanished  once  more  down  the  dark,  steep 
passageway,  with  his  paddles  and  torch  in  hand. 

The  torch  was  left  in  the  gallery,  extinguished.  The 
concealing  door  was  adjusted  to  its  place.  These  were 
mere  precautions  against  the  cave's  discovery,  yet  Gren- 
ville  was  certain  no  Dyaks  would  approach  the  place 
that  night.  His  two  best  jugs  were  placed  on  the  ledge ; 
his  cleaver  was  hung  at  his  belt.  He  could  take  no 
bombs  or  lighted  brands  on  such  an  expedition. 

The  task  of  launching  his  raft  on  the  tide  in 
volved  unexpected  labor.  Its  lightness  made  it  an  easy 
prey  to  the  swirl  that  always  filled  the  cavern's  walled 
approach.  It  was  sucked  once  nearly  under,  its  farther 
end  disappearing  entirely  from  view — and  Granville 
withdrew  it,  desperately  glad  the  jugs  had  not  been 
placed  upon  it. 

Awaiting  a  quieter  mood  of  the  whirlpool,  half  seen 
in  the  darkness,  he  launched  the  float  again,  and  be 
held  it  rest  there,  quietly,  nosing  against  the  ledge. 
He  turned  for  the  jugs,  but,  casting  a  quick  glance 
backward,  at  the  slightest  of  scraping  sounds,  saw  the 
raft  swinging  outward  from  his  reach. 

His  arm  was  too  short  for  its  recovery.  Leaping 
wildly  out  in  the  water,  he  caught  it  again,  and  was 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  305 

washed  against  the  jagged  wall  before  he  once  more 
returned  it  to  the  landing.  He  was  soaked  to  the  skin, 
but  his  pulses  throbbed  with  heat  and  dogged  energy 
that  would  think  of  no  defeat. 

With  his  jugs  finally  laid  flat  between  the  bamboo 
supporters,  front  and  rear,  and  with  paddles  in  hand, 
as  he  lay  at  full  length  on  the  light  but  half-submerged 
platform,  he  rowed  the  raft  out  with  a  motion  as  if  he 
were  swimming. 

Indeed,  like  a  giant  oar-bug,  more  or  less  helplessly 
carried  by  the  current  that  it  rides,  he  spun  slowly 
about  in  the  maelstrom  of  the  gathering  tide  before  he 
could  escape  past  the  portal  and  head  for  the  inlet 
below. 

He  soon  discovered  that  to  continue  far  in  this 
fatiguing  attitude  would  abominably  strain  his  neck, 
if  not  his  entire  body.  Not  without  considerable  dif 
ficulty,  in  balancing  the  craft,  he  effected  a  change  of 
position,  and  knelt  upon  the  supports. 

The  waves  washed  up  about  his  knees  and  feet,  but 
of  this  he  was  practically  oblivious.  Assisted  now  by 
the  current,  and  with  eyes  intent  on  the  darkened  shore, 
beyond  the  uprise  of  the  cliff,  he  propelled  himself  much 
farther  out  than  formerly,  with  the  purpose  of  avoid 
ing  the  possible  vigilance  of  Dyaks  on  the  beach. 

The  night  was  not  exceedingly  dark,  so  brilliant 
was  the  light  from  the  stars.  Once  the  region  of  smoke 
was  left  behind,  the  blurred  and  blended  features  of 
the  island  were  sufficiently  well  revealed  for  his  pur 
poses,  since  he  knew  its  every  silhouette  as  well  as  the 
contours  of  the  coast. 

He  had  rowed  and  drifted,  perhaps,  half  the  distance 
essential  to  land  at  the  estuary  mouth,  when  the  sound 


306  AS  IT  WAS 

of  voices,  floated  out  from  the  shore,  abruptly  halted 
his  movements.  The  Dyaks  were  there.  Either  mo 
tion  or  any  unusual  disturbance  would  suffice  to  betray 
his  presence  off  the  land. 

And  now,  as  if  every  fate  had  become  malignant,  the 
current  drifted  him  inward,  where  he  knew  he  should 
keep  well  away.  At  the  risk  of  exciting  curiosity,  if 
nothing  more,  he  dipped  his  paddles,  with  a  slow  and 
silent  expenditure  of  strength,  and  swept  the  float 
powerfully  outward  again,  till  the  shore  seemed  a  part 
with  the  sea. 

For  a  time  that  seemed  interminable  he  hung  about 
that  outer  stretch,  awaiting  a  further  sound  of  the 
voices.  They  did  not  come.  Once  more  at  last  he 
paddled  silently  inward,  finally  worming,  as  before,  to  a 
prostrate  position  on  the  raft.  The  chant  of  the  head- 
hunters  came  again,  as  if  from  the  depths  of  the  jungle. 

"  Now,  if  ever ! "  muttered  Grenville,  half  aloud,  and 
impelled  by  a  new  and  reckless  desperation,  increased 
by  his  thirst  and  his  impotent  rage  at  the  creatures 
still  feeding  the  fumes  that  Elaine  could  not  avoid,  he 
sent  his  craft  swiftly  landward,  thankful,  at  least,  for 
the  mild  disturbance  of  breaking  ripples  on  the  shore 
that  would  drown  what  slight  noises  he  might  make. 

Tempted  to  moor  his  float  outside  the  estuary,  he 
readily  agreed  it  might  thereby  lead  to  his  discovery, 
and  must,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  be  completely  concealed 
in  the  shadows  of  the  pool.  Excited  now  by  the  pos 
sibility  that  his  catamaran,  with  the  oars  and  rowlocks, 
might  still  remain  in  its  former  harbor,  he  was  doomed 
to  prompt  disappointment  on  gaining  the  estuary  basin. 
There  was  nothing  whatsoever  in  the  place. 

His  jugs  and  paddles  he  had  placed  upon  the  sand. 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  307 

It  was  only  the  work  of  a  moment  to  draw  his  float 
across  the  bar  and  gently  thrust  it  away  from  sight 
beneath  the  overhanging  verdure.  Then  he  stood  there, 
knee-deep  in  the  water,  straining  his  ears  for  the  slight 
est  sound  of  the  Dyaks  stirring  in  the  thicket. 

Only  the  drone  of  a  halting  voice  was  wafted  to  the 
place.  In  silence  he  concealed  his  paddles,  and  took 
up  his  jugs,  to  wade  with  the  utmost  caution  up  the 
pool,  towards  the  spring  that  formed  its  source.  The 
water  about  him  was  brackish,  from  its  mixture  with 
the  tide. 

Deeper  and  deeper  grew  the  basin.  The  water  had 
risen  to  his  waist.  He  sank  in  steadily  with  every  step, 
despairing  now  with  the  sickening  thought  he  might 
be  compelled  to  swim.  Such  a  task,  with  two  filled 
jugs,  would  be  impossible,  as  he  bitterly  realized.  But 
on  he  went,  as  noiselessly  as  before. 

The  water  was  now  about  his  breast,  and  he  held  his 
jugs  above  it.  Something  gently  nosed  against  him — 
and  gave  him  a  start.  Thoughts  of  the  tropic  serpents 
so  frequently  inhabiting  the  water,  chilled  a  thin  chan 
nel  down  his  spine.  Then  he  saw  that  the  thing  which 
might  have  been  a  reptile  head  was  the  cork  and  neck  of 
a  bottle.  He  dipped  down  and  caught  it  between  his 
teeth,  more  gratified  in  all  his  being  than  if  it  had 
been  a  thing  of  gold. 

It  almost  seemed  to  the  man  like  a  sign  that  the 
tide  of  ill-fortune  had  turned — the  tide  of  luck.  He 
had  certainly  passed  the  deepest  section  of  the  estuary ; 
he  was  rising  on  higher  ground. 

To  avoid  the  soundings  of  dripping  water,  ready  to 
fall  from  his  clothing,  he  proceeded  more  slowly  than 
before.  When  at  length  he  came  to  a  strip  of  barren 


308  AS  IT  WAS 

sand,  he  rested  his  jugs,  withdrew  the  cork  from  his 
bottle,  and  was  gratified  to  detect  the  odor  of  stale 
beer,  or  stout,  which  the  thing  had  formerly  contained. 
He  rinsed  it  then  and  there,  to  make  it  sweet,  and 
crowded  it  into  his  pocket. 

When  he  once  more  took  up  his  jugs,  to  resume 
his  quest  of  drinkable  fluid,  he  was  presently  confronted 
by  an  exceptional  tangle  of  the  shrubbery,  arching  the 
tortuous  windings  of  the  estuary's  head.  Here  he 
found  himself  obliged  to  pause  and  noiselessly  bend 
back  or  break  a  number  of  the  slender  branches  before 
he  could  wade  as  before. 

He  started  some  small  nocturnal  animal  out  through 
the  growth,  and  the  rustling  disturbance  made  by  the 
beast  was  heard  by  the  Dyaks  beyond.  One  of  them 
called  out  sharply.  To  Grenville's  complete  astonish 
ment  and  dismay  another  man,  barely  a  few  yards  off, 
replied  with  a  species  of  grunt.  The  fellow  had  come 
there,  either  to  visit  or  to  set  a  snare,  and  must  have 
believed  he  had  frightened  the  animal  himself. 

Sidney  could  hear  him  working  now,  as  he  leaned  a 
bit  closer  to  the  foliage,  incapable  of  moving  further 
while  the  hunter  delayed  in  the  thicket.  The  fellow 
presently  arose,  as  if  to  go.  Instead,  however,  he  ap 
proached  even  closer  to  Grenville's  place  of  concealment, 
and  Sidney  oozed  cold  perspiration,  helplessly  occupied, 
as  he  was,  with  a  jug  in  either  hand,  and  his  cleaver 
still  swung  at  his  waist. 

To  have  moved,  or  attempted  to  place  either  jug  in 
the  water  at  his  feet,  must  have  been  fatal  to  his  mission. 
Yet  he  felt  convinced  the  Dyak  must  fairly  run  against 
him,  unless  he  could  move  to  the  side.  One  of  his 
shoes,  moreover,  was  sinking  deeply  in  slimy  mire. 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  309 

That  his  balance  must  be  overcome  seemed  well-nigh 
inevitable.  A  branch  from  one  of  the  larger  trees  that 
grew  above  him  on  the  bank  now  swept  so  forcibly 
against  the  other  foliage  as  the  Dyak  hauled  it  down 
ward,  to  sever  a  twig  for  his  trap,  that  Grenville's  face 
was  lightly  brushed.  When  the  limb  sprang  upward 
a  moment  later,  he  pulled  his  foot  from  the  hole. 

It  seemed  to  the  man  a  quarter  of  an  hour  at  least 
that  the  trapper  remained  there,  a  few  feet  away,  mak 
ing  one  more  sound,  from  time  to  time,  when  it  seemed 
at  last  he  must  have  departed.  When  he  finally  went, 
there  could  be  no  assurance  he  would  not  return  again. 
Notwithstanding  this  possibility,  Grenville  slipped  fur 
tively  along  once  more,  disturbed  to  find  how  far 
towards  the  spring  this  narrowing,  sea-level  neck  of 
the  inlet  continued  through  the  growth. 

When  he  came  at  length  to  a  rise  of  the  island,  down 
which  the  trickle  from  the  spring  had  made  its  course, 
he  found  himself  at  the  edge  of  a  small,  grass-grown 
clearing,  that  could  hardly  be  more  than  a  stone's  toss 
away  from  the  Dyaks'  temporary  camp.  A  small,  deep 
basin,  filled  with  the  precious  water  he  sought,  reflected 
a  star  at  the  zenith  of  the  heavens.  It  some  way  gave 
him  hope.  Of  courage  he  had  no  lack. 

Noiselessly,  but  without  hesitation,  he  crept  forward 
to  the  place  and  bent  to  drink,  then  to  fill  his  bottle 
and  jugs.  At  a  snap  that  came  from  the  shadows  be 
yond  he  looked  up  alertly,  beholding  through  the 
leaves  a  bright  bit  of  fire  upon  the  earth,  with  two  of 
the  Dyaks  at  its  side.  Every  accent  of  their  halting 
conversation  came  clearly  to  his  ears. 

With  his  three  receptacles  filled  at  last,  he  began  his 
retreat  from  the  place.  He  had  barely  vanished  from 


310  AS  IT  WAS 

the  clearing,  and  come  to  the  cover  of  the  growth  once 
more,  when  the  man  who  was  laying  the  snare  in  some 
pathway  of  the  small  jungle  animals  came  back  to  com 
plete  his  work. 

Grenville  thought  his  arms  must  relinquish  the  holds 
in  their  sockets  before  the  unsuspecting  hunter  was  con 
tent  to  leave  the  neighborhood.  The  jugs,  so  long  and 
silently  held,  were  rested  a  moment  on  the  bank,  when,  at 
last,  the  moment  did  arrive  when  Sidney  could  dare  re 
treat.  Then  down  through  the  stubborn  tangle,  once 
more,  he  moved  like  a  silent  shade.  With  every  yard 
thus  placed  between  himself  and  the  natives  by  the 
spring,  the  hope  in  his  breast  increased. 

He  came  once  more  to  the  deeper  estuary  pool  and, 
lifting  his  jugs  to  his  shoulders,  waded  cautiously  for 
ward,  nearly  up  to  his  throat  in  the  tepid  brine  that 
smelled  too  rank  for  anything  but  swamp.  He  paused 
by  his  raft,  for  a  moment  undecided  as  to  whether  he 
should  place  his  jugs  in  the  braces  lashed  upon  it,  before 
he  pushed  it  past  the  bar,  or  after  it  should  float  on  the 
tides. 

While  he  stood  there,  with  a  sense  of  exultation  dar 
ing  to  warm  in  his  soul — an  exultation  centered  on 
Elaine  and  the  joy  it  must  presently  be  to  see  her 
thirst  allayed — he  suddenly  stiffened  at  the  sound  of 
Dyak  voices,  alarmingly  near  at  hand. 

Retreating  instantly,  under  the  shadow  of  the 
foliage  and  against  the  end  of  his  raft,  he  placed  one 
jug  upon  it,  noiselessly,  and  put  out  his  hand  to  grasp 
at  a  branch  to  draw  himself  further  from  sight. 

But  the  branch  on  which  he  laid  his  grip  was  sud 
denly  alive.  It  writhed  and  lashed  sharply  at  his 
knuckles  until,  with  a  shudder  of  comprehension  that 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  311 

he  had  clutched  the  tail  of  a  snake,  he  flung  it  off  and 
knew  it  had  glided  away. 

He  had  no  choice  but  to  try  again,  and  this  time  met 
with  better  fortune.  Out  through  the  foliage,  ar 
ranged  thus  hurriedly  about  him,  he  peered  towards 
the  low  bit  of  beach.  There  was  no  one  in  sight,  but 
beyond,  on  the  sea,  suddenly  looming  before  him,  and 
coming  about  to  face  the  protected  inlet,  a  third  of 
the  Dyak  sailing-boats,  a  new  arrival,  manned  by  an 
additional  group  of  head-hunters,  nosed  gracefully  up 
against  the  tide. 

Her  anchor  was  cast,  and  there  she  rode,  not  twenty 
yards  out  from  the  shore. 

Like  shadowy  demons  from  some  world  beyond,  ar 
rived  on  some  mission  mysterious  and  tragic — some 
service  of  the  foulest  fiend  in  Hades — four  half-seen 
figures  moved  along  the  railing  of  the  craft,  destroying 
the  hope  in  Grenville's  bosom. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX 

ADDITIONAL   HEAD-HUNTERS 

THE  boatmen  thus  newly  arrived  off  the  estuary's 
mouth  were  proceeding  in  a  leisurely  and  confident 
manner  to  make  themselves  and  their  vessel  snug  for 
the  night,  and  Grenville  had  placed  his  second  jug 
upon  his  raft  when,  without  a  sound  having  come  to 
announce  their  movements,  two  or  three  Dyaks  from 
the  camp  in  the  growth  called  some  greeting  or  chal 
lenge  from  the  shore. 

That  their  words  were  interpreted  in  a  friendly  spirit 
by  the  shadowy  natives  on  the  anchored  boat  seemed  to 
Grenville  entirely  obvious.  There  was  something  akin 
to  cheer  in  the  voices  that  replied  across  the  water. 
Every  man  was  seen  to  halt  at  his  work  and  come  to 
the  shoreward  side  of  the  craft,  to  peer  through  the 
darkness  towards  the  beach. 

Three  of  the  fiends  with  whom  he  had  waged  unequal 
battle  now  appeared  on  the  sand  strip  a  rod  from 
where  Sidney  was  standing.  Their  backs  were  pre 
sented  as  they  called  and  gestured  to  the  men  beyond, 
and  Grenville  identified  the  chief  once  more  by  the  fel 
low's  unusual  height. 

Apparently  an  argument  ensued,  conducted,  as  to  the 
shoreward  end,  by  the  tall  and  dominant  leader.  He 
waved  quick,  eloquent  gestures,  frequently  towards  the 
headland  whence  Grenville  had  come.  That  some  re- 

312 


AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING       313 

port  of  recent  proceedings  was  being  thus  delivered 
there  could  be  no  reasonable  doubt.  Expressions  of 
astonishment,  satisfaction,  and  a  diabolical  glee  came 
back  in  guttural  staccatos  from  the  blood-loving 
creatures  on  the  vessel. 

Grenville  almost  forgot  where  he  was,  and  why,  such 
indignation  burned  in  his  breast  as  he  grasped  at  the 
substance  of  the  conference  thus  held  across  the  tide. 
Four  more  head-hunters,  come  to  swell  the  already 
heavily  outnumbering  forces  of  the  island,  was  too  much 
for  Heaven  to  permit!  Against  such  odds  and  such 
diabolism,  what  possible  chance — 

He  smiled  in  a  grim,  sardonic  manner  at  the  thought 
that  a  fight  between  himself  and  the  now  augmented 
Dyaks  would  ever  again  be  likely,  with  this  boat  an 
chored  here  before  him,  Dyaks  camping  in  the  jungle, 
and  no  trail  left  by  which  he  could  reach  the  terrace 
and  Elaine,  even  could  he  creep  away  in  the  shadows 
and  silence  of  the  thicket. 

It  appeared  to  him  now  that  the  chief  on  shore  was 
becoming  impatient,  or  angry.  He  shouted  orders  and 
waved  his  hand  down  the  length  of  the  island  in  a 
style  growing  rapidly  more  and  more  imperative,  while 
the  new  arrivals  answered  back  in  a  stubborn  and  sullen 
dissatisfaction  that  Sidney  began  to  hope  might  lead 
to  open  rupture.  Should  one  of  the  factions  war 
against  the  other,  he  would  think  these  four  boatmen  a 
Godsend. 

Even  then,  he  reflected,  the  situation,  as  bearing  on 
himself,  might  present  no  altered  aspect  till  all  was  de 
cidedly  too  late.  Should  he  fail  to  return  to  Elaine 
with  water  to-night — she  would  doubtless  never  see 
his  face  again.  Should  morning  still  find  him  hiding 


314  AS  IT  WAS 


—  their  fates  would  have  a  sudden  termination.  And 
now,  with  this  craft  at  anchor  in  the  current,  so  close 
inshore,  there  could  be  no  chance  to  escape  around  it 
unobserved,  what  possible  alternative  was  offered  but 
to  stand  here,  nearly  to  his  waist  in  the  water,  aware 
that  the  deadliest  sort  of  snakes  might  be  coiled  within 
a  foot  of  his  hand? 

One  of  the  Dyaks  a  rod  away  now  sat  upon  the  sand. 
The  colloquy  continued.  The  domineering  leader,  wax 
ing  more  and  more  imperious,  made  gestures  now  in 
both  directions.  That  what  he  imparted  and  declared 
was  again  concerned  with  himself  and  Elaine,  Grenville 
could  not  fail  to  understand.  He  was  puzzled,  how 
ever,  to  determine  the  reason  for  this  lengthy  contest  of 
words. 

It  occurred  to  his  mind  the  dispute  might  have  sprung 
from  rival  claims  as  to  sharing  the  trophies,  when,  at 
last,  the  defenders  of  the  terrace  should  no  longer  re 
quire  their  heads.  The  ghastliness  of  the  suggestion 
did  not  greatly  disturb  him;  he  was  too  far  dulled  and 
wearied  by  things  already  undergone. 

When  it  seemed  at  last  as  if  the  verbal  combat  might 
result  in  a  deadlier  feud,  the  matter  between  the  land 
and  water  factions  was  suddenly  adjusted  with  accents 
amazingly  mild  from  either  side.  Considerably  to 
Grenville's  astonishment,  the  boatmen  heaved  up  their 
anchor,  eased  off  their  sail,  and  put  about  towards  the 
farther  end  of  the  island. 

The  three  men  ashore  called  out  additional  instruc 
tions,  presumably,  and  followed  for  a  distance  down  the 
shore.  The  boat  was  presently  gone  from  Sidney's  view. 
He  did  not  stir,  though  he  ached  in  every  bone  and 
muscle,  from  his  long,  hard  session  of  suffering  and  toil, 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  315 

and  this  cramp  and  strain  of  hiding.  He  was  well  aware 
that  even  the  Dyaks  would  soon  be  obliged,  either  to  re 
trace  their  steps  and  return  as  they  had  come,  or  force 
a  way  up  through  the  jungle  to  cross  to  the  island's 
farther  side. 

That  the  vessel  would  join  the  others,  already  at  an 
chor  behind  the  second  hill,  he  had  finally  comprehended 
with  a  wildness  of  hope  his  heart  could  scarcely  contain. 
The  chief  had  undoubtedly  ordered  the  craft  away  from 
this  particular  anchorage  lest  it  be  too  readily  seen. 

With  barely  a  grunt  or  two  of  conversation  between 
them,  the  trio  seen  before  him  on  the  sand  now  presently 
returned.  They  stood  about  the  estuary  inlet  for  a 
moment,  as  if  debating  some  second  affair  of  importance, 
then  finally  glided  away. 

Even  then  Grenville  stirred  with  silent  caution,  wait 
ing  with  heartbeats  once  more  quickened  lest  he  move 
too  soon,  and  be  discovered  after  all.  The  place,  how 
ever,  was  deserted.  Stiffly,  but  none  the  less  eagerly, 
and  alert  for  the  slightest  alarm,  he  coaxed  his  raft 
from  the  overhanging  shrubbery,  urged  it  gently  out 
across  the  bar,  and,  hurriedly  lashing  his  jugs  to  the 
braces  provided,  pushed  away  and  headed  far  out  in 
the  tide. 

The  current  had  turned.  It  was  flowing  strongly 
towards  the  cliff,  in  a  certain  impetuous  manner  that 
was  far  from  being  assuring.  For  while,  in  a  measure, 
it  assisted  Grenville's  float,  it  swirled  and  battled  with 
other  counter  currents,  into  which  he  was  helplessly 
carried.  His  frail,  narrow  raft  was  not  infrequently 
threatened  with  disaster. 

Twice,  for  a  second,  he  well-nigh  despaired  of  right 
ing  before  he  should  sink  or  plunge  end  downward, 


316  AS  IT  WAS 

capsizing  himself  and  his  jugs.  He  was  shot  far  out 
ward  from  his  course  by  one  of  the  treacherous  tor 
rents  of  tide,  then  rocketed  straight  for  the  rocks  of 
the  cliff  by  another.  His  paddles  were  wholly  in 
adequate  for  such  a  struggle;  his  arms  refused  the 
demands  that  his  will  insistently  made  upon  them.  It 
seemed  as  if  he  must  break  at  some  vital  center  of  his 
being  before  he  at  length  was  enabled  to  avoid  a  col 
lision  with  the  cliff.  Then  he  sank  exhausted,  obliged 
for  a  moment  to  pause  and  rest,  when  the  tide  once 
more  drifted  him  outward. 

Before  he  could  rouse  his  flagging  sinews  to  another 
effort,  he  had  floated  by  the  cave.  He  was  prodded  to 
new  desperation.  The  struggle  he  waged  to  regain 
that  rocky  niche — only  to  have  the  whirlpool  cast  him 
to  the  outside  current  as  before,  with  his  raft  entirely 
submerged — was  enough  to  break  his  heart. 

Nothing  save  the  thought  of  Elaine  could  have 
availed  to  spur  him  yet  once  more  to  fighting  vigor. 
He  did  fight  again,  till  it  seemed  he  must  topple  like 
a  man  of  lead,  and  sink  almost  gladly  in  the  sea,  with 
a  sense  of  welcome  to  its  endless  peace. 

A  weak  and  staggering  figure  he  presented  when  the 
landing  was  finally  achieved.  He  barely  pulled  his  raft 
within  the  cavern.  He  had  no  strength  left  to  conceal 
it  in  the  passage. 

Hugging  his  two  heavy  jugs  of  precious  liquid,  and 
also  with  the  bottle  weighing  down  his  pocket,  he  groped 
and  stumbled  slowly  up  the  gallery,  pausing  with  ever 
increasing  frequency  to  lean  against  the  walls  and  re 
cuperate  his  strength. 

Elaine  was  aroused  from  a  state  of  lethargy,  where 
she  watched  and  listened  at  the  upper  door,  by  sounds 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  317 

that  for  a  moment  filled  her  with  alarm.  That  some 
noisily  breathing  animal  was  making  its  way  up  the 
passage  from  the  sea  was  her  first  half-waking  im 
pression. 

With  a  cry  of  relief  and  worry  blended,  she  immedi 
ately  understood.  It  was  Grenville's  labored  panting 
she  had  heard,  where  he  would  not  call  for  assistance 
for  fear  she  should  be  alarmed.  She  caught  up  the 
torch  she  had  kept  so  faithfully  alight  for  his  guid 
ance,  and  ran  hastily  down  to  give  him  welcome. 

He  was  leaning  against  the  wall  once  more,  his  mouth 
a  little  open  for  the  air  his  lungs  demanded,  his  face 
drawn  and  white  with  his  utter  weakness  and  exhaustion. 
In  one  keen  glance  Elaine  comprehended  his  condition. 

"Sidney!"  she  cried.  "Oh!  but  why  did  you  go? 
Why  would  you  work  so  hard  to-night?  " 

He  could  conjure  no  smile  to  his  lips.  "  I  love  you, 
Elaine,"  he  answered.  "  It  kills  me  to  see  you  suffer." 

"  Oh  please — please  don't,"  she  begged  him.  Her 
eyes  were  brimming  with  tears. 

He  sank  on  the  floor  of  the  passage  as  he  tried  once 
more  to  raise  the  jugs.  And  yet,  when  Elaine  pounced 
eagerly  upon  the  bottle  full  of  water,  and  pressed  it  to 
his  lips,  his  stubborn  resistance  was  once  more  re 
asserted.  He  accepted  a  few  sips  only,  then  thrust  it 
firmly  away. 

"  That  last  little  pull  was  steeper  than  I  thought," 
he  admitted,  as  he  forced  himself  to  rise  and  set  his  jugs 
more  carefully  in  the  rocks  against  the  wall.  "  If  you 
will  oblige  me  by  taking  a  drink  of  water — 

"  Not  now,"  Elaine  interrupted,  as  self-denying  as 
before.  "  I  am  not  the  least  bit  thirsty.  If  you'll 
only  rest — if  you'll  go  to  sleep " 


318        AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING 

"  I  shall  go  to  no  rest  till  you  have  taken  a  cup  of 
water." 

She  knew  he  would  not.  She  drank  from  the  bottle, 
perhaps  three  ordinary  swallows  of  the  liquid,  like  nectar 
to  her  palate. 

"  Good-night,"  he  said,  with  a  touch  of  his  old-time 
brusqueness,  and,  adding  nothing  more,  he  continued 
on  to  the  barrier  and  out  to  his  post  of  duty.  There 
he  sank  on  a  rock  before  the  door  to  guard  Elaine 
from  harm. 

Elaine,  softly  crying,  went  back  at  last  to  her  couch. 
And  some  time,  deep  in  the  silence  of  the  night,  she 
awoke  sufficiently  to  creep  to  the  door,  where  she  lis 
tened  to  Grcnville,  deeply  sleeping. 


CHAPTER  XL 

PLOT    AND    COUNTER    PLOT 

THE  smoke  that  for  two  forbidding  days  had  veiled 
and  grayed  the  headland,  continued  to  drift  from  the 
jungle,  when  Grenville  roused  from  his  slumber. 

He  was  much  refreshed,  yet  had  not  entirely  recu 
perated  the  strength  so  drained  in  the  night.  The 
aspect  of  the  barren  rock,  engulfed  in  the  fumes,  was 
only  what  he  had  expected.  He  felt  convinced  that, 
like  the  mistral  of  the  Riviera,  this  wind  would  continue 
for  three  full  days  at  least.  And  the  Dyaks  were 
hardly  likely  to  permit  an  abatement  of  the  smoke  while 
it  brought  no  discomfort  to  themselves. 

Apparently  they  had  made  no  effort  to  bridge  the 
gap  that  rendered  the  trail  completely  useless.  It  was 
clear  to  Sidney's  mind,  however,  that  so  soon  as  they 
believed  the  adventure  safe,  they  would  swarm  upon  the 
terrace,  if  for  nothing  else,  then  in  search  of  heads  and 
the  treasure. 

With  the  possible  development  of  an  earlier  plan  in 
his  mind,  he  crossed  at  once  to  his  cannon,  loaded  and 
primed  in  its  bed,  and  began  to  adjust  a  lot  of  loose 
stones  above  and  upon  it,  to  hide  it  completely  from 
view.  The  fuse  he  drew,  meantime,  aside,  where  he 
meant  to  splice  another  length  to  its  end. 

Elaine  came  out  from  the  narrow  confines  of  her 
gallery  in  the  hope  of  'lending  assistance.  She  was 

319 


320  AS  IT  WAS 

wearing  the  tiger's  jeweled  collar  about  her  slender 
waist. 

"  I'm  hiding  the  gun — masking  our  battery,"  Sid 
ney  informed  her,  quietly.  "  Its  muzzle  is  still  unob 
structed  and  pointed  as  before.  In  case  it  seems  wise 
to  permit  the  Dyaks  to  climb  up  at  last  and  look  about, 
I  prefer  they  shouldn't  steal  our  thunder."  If  he  noted 
the  golden  girdle,  he  made  no  unusual  sign. 

Elaine  was  considerably  puzzled. 

"  But — why  should  we  let  them  come?  " 

"  To  convince  them  their  prisoners  have  flown.  It 
may  give  us  a  chance  to  punish  them  harder,  later  on." 

"  If  a  steamer  would  only  come ! "  she  said,  turning 
vainly  to  the  sea,  still  shrouded  from  view.  "  Even  a 
Chinese  junk!  Anything,  almost,  but  more  of  these 
horrible  fiends !  " 

"  You  see,"  continued  Grenville,  "  I  can  make  an  imi 
tation  cannon,  from  one  of  my  bamboo  lengths,  and 
leave  it  here  to  fool  them.  They  may  be  led  to  think 
it  the  only  gun  we've  had,  and  search  no  farther  for 
our  ordnance.  The  smoke  is  likely  to  lift,  I  think, 
which  is  why  I'm  at  work  before  breakfast." 

He  did  not  complete  the  arrangements  of  his  ruse  be 
fore  they  broke  their  fast,  however,  since  the  making  of 
an  imitation  cannon  required  at  least  an  hour.  The 
last  of  their  meat,  save  a  little  intended  for  fishing-bait, 
was  consumed  with  the  insignificant  remnants  of  their 
fruit  supply,  and  Grenville  took  time  to  catch  one  sil 
very  fish  from  the  ledge  in  front  of  the  cavern,  as  well 
as  to  gather  a  lot  of  the  mussels,  for  luncheon  and  din 
ner,  before  he  returned  to  the  terrace. 

Already  the  breeze  was  failing.  There  were  streaks 
of  highly  acceptable  air  interspersed  with  the  billows  of 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  321 

smoke.  Not  without  a  certain  impatience  to  have  this 
business  concluded  before  the  veiling  fumes  should 
leave  the  terrace  entirely  exposed  to  the  penetrative 
sight  of  the  Dyaks,  Grenville  hastened  the  construc 
tion  of  his  imitation  gun,  to  be  left  by  the  heap  of 
stones. 

That  a  more  convincing  appearance  of  over-use  might 
assist  in  creating  the  desired  impression,  he  selected  one 
of  the  bamboo  sections  already  badly  split.  This  he 
readily  blackened  by  burning  a  handful  of  powder, 
loosely,  inside  its  muzzle.  With  a  rude  vent  cut  and 
similarly  treated,  the  affair  was  ready  to  be  bound  with 
discarded  creepers,  then  lodged  in  the  rocks  above  the 
genuine  bit  of  artillery  still  ready  for  grim  engage 
ments. 

All  that  remained  of  the  powder  in  his  cave  was 
carefully  moved  to  the  passage,  there  to  be  most 
cautiously  deposited,  away  from  all  possible  fire,  along 
with  his  coils  of  fuse.  Somewhat  to  his  disappoint 
ment,  the  northerly  breeze  seemed  once  more  freshen 
ing  as  the  morning  hours  advanced.  He  had  hoped  not 
only  for  a  lifting  of  the  smoke,  but  likewise  to  find  the 
Dyaks'  boat  once  more  encircling  the  headland. 

Beyond  transferring  his  water  supply  from  the  jugs 
to  a  number  of  bamboo  buckets,  which  permitted  no 
waste  by  percolation,  he  had  nothing  further  to  employ 
his  time  as  the  day  wore  slowly  on.  The  heat  in  the 
meantime  was  intolerable.  The  fish  was  roasted  in  an 
"  oven  "  he  fashioned  of  the  heat-retaining  tufa.  The 
mussels  were  likewise  "  steamed  "  in  their  own  exuding 
juices,  occupying  the  large  and  basin-like  sea-shell  for 
the  purpose. 

It  was  not  until  nearly  four  in  the  afternoon  that  the 


322  AS  IT  WAS 

wind  definitely  veered.  Grenville  had  noted  the  com 
ing  alteration  that  would  clear  the  hill  of  fumes  in  time 
to  make  all  essential  preparations  for  the  Dyak  watch 
fulness.  His  furnace  of  fire  was  duly  banked,  to  con 
tinue  a  smoldering  glow  among  the  ashes  without  pro 
ducing  smoke.  Elaine  had  retired  within  the  passage, 
and  the  entrance  door  to  this  secret  hiding-place  was 
adjusted  against  the  rock. 

Grenville  remained  upon  the  terrace.  No  less  a  de 
gree  of  vigilance  than  that  previously  exercised  was, 
he  felt,  highly  essential.  Concealed  in  the  caves  or 
rocks  comprised  by  the  former  camp  he  could  not  only 
guard  against  surprise  by  a  bridging  of  the  ruined 
trail,  but  his  view  of  the  sea,  that  might  once  more  be 
haunted  by  the  Dyak  craft,  was  practically  without 
limit. 

Apparently  the  Dyaks,  too,  had  been  aware  the 
breeze  would  serve  them  no  longer.  The  smudges  in 
the  jungle  were  extinguished.  In  a  time  comparatively 
brief,  after  the  shifting  of  the  wind,  no  smoke  at  all 
was  visible.  But  during  the  final  hour  preceding  sun 
set  another  phase  of  fiendish  ingenuity  developed. 

The  Dyaks  began  shooting  arrows  of  fire  all  about  on 
the  summit  of  the  terrace.  They  were  shafts  made 
highly  inflammable  by  means  of  resin  and  pitch.  Their 
flight  through  the  air  was  not  sufficiently  violent  to  ex 
tinguish  their  glowing  ends.  If  they  did  not  blaze 
upon  alighting  on  the  rocks,  they  still  retained  suf 
ficient  heat  and  redness  to  ignite  a  pan  of  powder. 

It  was  this  that  occurred  to  Grenville  as  he  made 
up  his  mind  that  some  genius  of  diabolism  among  the 
new  arrivals  was  doubtless  responsible  for  this  effort  to 
explode  his  magazine.  His  satisfaction  with  himself 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  323 

for  his  foresight  in  storing  his  powder  anew  was  his  one 
real  joy  of  the  day.  He  wondered  how  long  this  busi 
ness  might  continue,  and  how  many  of  the  enemy  must 
now  be  reckoned  with. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  with  the  four  who  had  come  un 
der  cover  of  the  night,  there  were  nine  unscathed  by 
previous  engagements.  Also,  it  was,  as  Grenville  had 
suspected,  one  of  the  latest  comers  who  had  counseled 
the  use  of  burning  arrows.  Since  the  terrace  defend 
ers  were  employing  some  dreaded  explosive,  the  one 
course  readily  suggested  was  to  reach  his  supply  with 
a  brand  of  fire — and,  perhaps,  thereby  destroy  its 
maker.  In  any  event,  deprived  of  this  one  deadly 
means  of  defense,  the  whites  could  be  readily 
slaughtered. 

Already  the  Dyaks  had  built  a  bridge,  to  be  used, 
when  the  time  should  at  last  arrive,  for  spanning  that 
gap  on  the  trail.  It  was  not  impossible,  many  had 
urged,  that  the  prisoners  lodged  on  the  headland's  sum 
mit  were  already  either  dead  or  dying.  How  they 
had  managed  to  survive  so  long,  with  no  supply  of 
water,  was  sufficiently  mysterious.  Should  they  still 
be  found  alive  another  day — all  the  greater  the  joy  of 
bringing  about  the  end ! 

The  Dyak  plan  for  reaching  the  magazine  had  been 
too  hastily  concocted.  The  supply  of  tarred  and 
resined  arrows  was  decidedly  insufficient.  Less  than  a 
score  had  been  sent  to  the  top  of  the  terrace  when  the 
last  was  speeded  on  its  way.  But  during  the  short  re 
maining  hour  of  daylight,  and  even  by  firelight,  after 
dark,  the  shafts  accumulated  swiftly,  against  the  com 
ing  of  the  dawn. 

Meantime  to  Grenville  had  come  an  inspiration.    His 


324  AS  IT  WAS 

one  clear  hope  for  the  morning  was  that  more  of  the 
arrows  might  be  shot  from  below  to  make  his  plans 
complete.  If  the  Dyaks  were  busy  after  dark,  they 
could  scarcely  have  matched  the  fever  with  which  he 
likewise  toiled. 

Down  to  the  cool,  dry  chamber  of  the  cavern  he  had 
carried  no  less  than  eight  of  his  largest  bombs,  with 
coil  upon  coil  of  his  fuse.  Two  mines  of  four  bombs 
each  he  planted,  concealing  all  with  rocks.  From  each 
of  the  mines  one  fuse  only  was  laid,  to  the  inner  angle 
of  the  passage.  Each  bomb  had  a  shorter  bit  of  fuse 
thrust  in  a  handful  of  powder,  to  which  the  two  main 
fuses  led.  The  lines  were  carefully  protected,  not 
only  against  discovery,  but  as  well  against  himself,  or 
his  boots,  as  he  tramped  back  and  forth  from  the  cave. 
When  this  arrangement  had  been  made  complete,  he 
could  do  no  more  in  that  direction  till  his  favorable 
hour  should  arrive. 

His  next  attention  was  directed  to  his  bamboo  float, 
which  had  been  practically  dismembered.  He  had 
utilized  the  heavy  stems  to  construct  a  long  and  nar 
row  platform,  with  two  rude  hooks  lashed  on  the  end 
to  engage  a  rung  of  his  ladder.  This  ladder  he  not 
only  lowered  down  from  the  wall  to  a  position  in  front 
of  the  cavern's  opening,  securing  its  end  with  more 
than  ordinary  caution  among  the  rocks  he  piled  upon 
it,  but  also  he  had  tested  the  length,  and  every  rung, 
by  extending  his  platform  across  from  the  ledge  and 
climbing  from  the  sea  to  the  terrace. 

It  was  midnight  before  his  final  preparation  was 
complete.  This  had  been  simply  arranged.  He  had 
carried  a  canister  of  powder  to  the  outside  rocks,  con 
siderably  back  of  Elaine's  former  shelter,  together  with 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  325 

two  small  bombs.  The  powder  he  laid  in  a  six-foot 
ring,  or  spiral,  that  narrowed  towards  the  center, 
merely  to  provide  a  lasting  and  widespread  flash  when  at 
length  it  should  be  ignited. 

The  bombs  were  placed  near  by,  simply  laid  in  a 
cave  of  no  considerable  dimensions.  Their  fuses  were 
trailed  across  the  rocks  to  a  place  of  observation,  and 
were  opened  out  in  such  a  manner  as  to  fire  both  the 
spiral  and  the  noisy  but  harmless  explosives. 

Despite  his  nervous  tension  and  the  worry  occasioned 
in  his  mind,  lest  the  Dyaks  fail  of  their  allotted  part, 
Grenville  finally  slept  as  soundly  as  a  boy,  when  at 
length  he  could  work  no  more.  But  Elaine,  strangely 
tingling  with  apprehension,  concerned  with  the  part 
that  she  must  likewise  play  to  render  his  plans  effective, 
had  not  Sidney's  weariness  to  overcome  her  nerves, 
and  therefore  rested  badly. 

For  long  she  lay  there,  listening,  as  always,  to  the 
silence  enfolding  the  island,  thinking  how  fair  it  had 
really  been  when  the  wail  alone  had  been  with  them, 
and  wondering,  eagerly  wondering,  if  by  chance  her 
companion  of  the  hours  both  bright  and  dark  had 
noticed  the  girdle  she  was  wearing. 


CHAPTER  XLI 

A    LIVING    BAIT 

THE  morning  dawned  in  beauty,  a  few  clouds  rid 
ing  with  thistle-down  lightness  athwart  the  illimitable 
dome  of  blue,  as  intense  as  that  of  the  sea.  A  light 
breeze  stirred  in  the  jungle,  to  wander  aimlessly  from 
one  deep  chalice  of  fragrance  to  another,  before  it 
trailed  across  the  hill.  Sea  tang  arose  from  the  rest 
less  tide,  that  washed  at  the  cliff  incessantly. 

As  far  as  sight  could  pursue  the  richness  of  its  cause 
way,  the  sun  laid  gold  in  glittering  mosaic  across  the 
tropic  ocean.  Never  had  the  sparkling  waves  seemed 
brighter,  the  world  more  promising,  as  Elaine  peered 
forth  through  her  chink  in  the  door,  awaiting — God 
only  knew  what. 

She  had  never  been  more  excited,  and  rarely  more 
alarmed.  The  unknown  element  in  Grenville's  plans 
kept  her  nerves  at  the  highest  tension.  They  had  eaten 
a  breakfast  solely  of  fish  before  the  light  of  daybreak. 
Grenville  had  carefully  closed  the  passage  barrier,  and 
crept  out  upon  the  terrace.  On  no  account  must  she 
open  the  door,  or  call  him  to  her  side.  She  must  wait, 
and  not  even  expect  to  hear  a  report  of  what  was  oc 
curring. 

The  longest  cord  she  had  ever  helped  to  braid  was 
lightly  secured  to  her  arm.  Its  farther  end  was  tied 
in  the  rocks  at  the  lower  exit  of  the  passage.  Until 

326 


AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING        327 

she  should  feel  his  tug  upon  this  signal  line,  she 
could  only  imagine  that  Sidney  was  near,  or,  perhaps, 
was  climbing  down  his  ladder. 

She  dreaded  the  thought  of  that  ladder,  so  frailly 
depending  above  the  rocks  and  water,  not  to  mention 
all  its  use  might  mean  when  the  time  for  the  signal 
should  arrive.  And  she  might  be  obliged  to  wait  all 
day,  as  Sidney  had  warned  her,  duly — all  day,  while 
the  wildest,  the  most  tormenting  of  conjectures  would 
leisurely  elaborate  themselves  in  her  brain  to  convince 
her  that  Sidney  was  no  more. 

Should  he  fall  from  the  cliff,  should  he  chance  to  un 
derestimate  the  Dyaks'  treacherous  activities — should 
any  one  of  a  dozen  possible  calamities  occur — how  long 
must  she  wait  till  she  knew  ? 

Meantime  Grenville  was  barely  less  keyed  to  excited 
expectancy  than  Elaine  in  her  prison-like  retreat.  Times 
without  number  he  goaded  his  mind  to  review  once  more 
the  inventory  of  his  scheme,  where  the  lack  of  one 
small  detail  might  prove  his  entire  undoing.  Yet, 
after  all,  there  were  a  few  links  only  in  the  chain, 
though  each  was  vitally  important. 

He  counted  them  over  carefully — the  signs  or  proof 
of  calamity,  here  on  the  hill,  to  convince  the  head 
hunting  demons  his  magazine  was  gone,  and  with  it  all 
possible  defense ;  the  ladder  and  platform  down  be 
low,  whereby  he  could  reach  the  cave ;  the  bombs  for 
the  climax,  should  his  hope  succeed;  and  fire  for  their 
certain  ignition. 

He  had  taken  a  double  precaution  to  provide  him 
self  with  fire.  Down  in  the  passage  several  brands 
were  smoldering  slowly  in  their  ashes,  while  others  did 
the  same  on  the  hill.  He  could  think  of  nothing  lack- 


328  AS  IT  WAS 

ing — not  even  the  cord  to  warn  Elaine  to  open  her  door 
and  flee  outside  when  at  length  he  should  give  her  the 
signal ! 

But  as  if  in  mockery  of  all  this  careful  business, 
the  day  began  with  never  a  sign  from  the  jungle.  The 
Dyaks,  he  feared,  had  altered  their  plan,  and  might 
shoot  no  more  of  their  arrows.  He  could  not  have 
known  they  were  waiting  for  the  breeze  to  freshen  and 
fill  a  certain  sail.  One  of  their  boats  had  been  pre 
pared  and  manned  to  police  the  headland  as  before. 

When  Grenville  at  length  beheld  it,  gracefully  sharp 
and  picturesque,  as  it  rounded  towards  the  master  cliff, 
he  was  filled  with  conflicting  emotions.  He  had  wished 
for  this,  precisely,  but  not  without  the  rest.  The  ar 
rows  first,  had  been  his  hope,  and  then  this  silent  vul 
ture,  atilt  in  the  purple  tides. 

The  arrows  presently  arrived.  He  was  still  engaged 
in  watching  the  movements  of  the  boat,  in  an  effort 
to  count  the  crew,  when  the  first  of  the  flaming  mes 
sengers  struck  dully  against  a  bowlder  and  lay  there, 
fiercely  blazing. 

Then  the  sudden  flight,  which,  against  an  inky  back 
ground,  must  have  presented  an  extraordinary  spectacle, 
afforded  a  sight  strange  enough,  as  Grenville  pres 
ently  conceded.  The  pitch  and  resin  with  which  the 
shafts  were  tipped,  burned  with  a  black  and  heavy 
smoke,  that  trailed  in  their  wakes  like  nebulous  tails  of 
cloud-producing  comets.  There  were  some  of  the  flames 
that  the  flight  only  served  to  fan  to  fiercer  heat  and 
color.  Like  a  candle  sputtering  in  a  draught  they 
sounded  as  they  flew. 

Others  that  lost  their  yellow  blaze  smoked  the  more 
blackly  in  the  air.  In  half  a  dozen  different  spots  the 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  329 

hotly  burning  lengths  of  wood  were  soon  consuming 
bits  of  scattered  leaves  and  grass,  one  almost  at  Gren- 
ville's  feet. 

He  was  soon  convinced  that,  should  this  rain  of  fire 
be  long  continued,  he  should  have  no  need  to  fire  his 
bombs  and  spiral.  The  arrows  would  actually  accom 
plish  the  mission  for  which  they  were  intended.  He 
had  no  wish  for  a  premature  climax  to  the  singular  at 
tack,  but  rather  hoped  to  create  the  impression  he  was 
fighting  desperately  to  protect  his  magazine. 

When  a  heap  of  waste  and  useless  creepers  was  pres 
ently  ignited,  he  ran  from  his  place  and  promptly  beat 
it  out.  He  wished  he  might  be  seen.  He  was  grati 
fied  without  delay.  The  rifleman,  posted,  as  on  previ 
ous  occasions,  in  the  rocks  that  crowned  the  second  hill, 
promptly  discharged  his  erratic  weapon,  and  nearly 
killed  one  of  his  kind. 

Grenville  ran  as  if  to  cover.  A  shout  of  exultation 
came  from  below.  A  larger  and  swifter  flight  of  the 
blazing  shafts  immediately  ensued. 

Sidney  now  cast  a  glance  about  for  the  ship  that 
was  cruising  by  the  headland.  Somewhat  to  his  dis 
appointment  it  had  gone  about  as  if  to  return  to  the 
west,  from  which  the  cave,  his  platform,  and  ladder 
could  not,  of  course,  be  seen.  He  fancied,  however,  it 
had  come  up  in  stays  at  the  sound  of  the  shot  on  the 
hill.  It  certainly  appeared  to  be  paying  off  to  con 
tinue  about  the  headland.  He  dared  not  longer  delay. 

The  arrows  were  blazing  all  about  him.  He  feared 
at  last  that  one  lucky  shot  might  even  fire  his  cannon. 
Almost  amused  by  the  irony  of  the  situation,  he  caught 
up  the  nearest  blazing  shaft  of  fire,  and  used  it  to  light 
his  fuse. 


830  AS  IT  WAS 

In  the  briefest  time  the  serpent  of  fire  sped  down 
through  the  hollowed  creeper  to  the  spiral,  where,  also, 
lay  the  bombs.  Of  a  sudden  the  powder  was  ignited. 

With  a  flash  of  quickly  leaping  flames  and  a  grayish 
geyser  of  fume,  the  destruction  began.  Then,  as  a 
cry  of  glee  arose  from  the  clearing  below,  the  bombs 
went  off  in  quick  succession. 

They  made  a  splendid  noise  and  smoke,  scattering 
fragments  of  the  tufa  far  and  wide,  till  a  rain  of  the 
smaller  pieces  spattered  thickly  down  in  the  jungle. 
Grenville  arose  from  his  hiding-place,  quite  unharmed, 
and  ran  about  on  the  terrace  crazily,  holding  his  head 
between  his  hands  for  the  distant  rifleman  to  witness 
his  discomfort. 

The  Dyak  was  overjoyed.  He  shouted  in  reckless 
delight  to  his  kind,  who  howled  like  a  pack  of  wolves 
now  certain  of  feasting.  Yet  they  did  not  emerge  from 
their  places  of  concealment,  nor  undertake  to  bridge 
the  trail,  and  immediately  ascend  the  hill,  as  Grenville 
had  somewhat  feared. 

He  crept  to  a  point  of  vantage,  watching  the  clear 
ing  for  a  demonstration  which,  much  to  his  gratifica 
tion,  did  not  arrive.  Back  once  more  towards  the  cliff 
at  the  rear  he  scuttled,  beholding  the  Dyak  craft  at  last 
heading  well  around  towards  the  cave.  The  moment 
was  ripe  for  his  scheme ! 

Hurriedly  creeping  to  the  eastern  brink,  with  one  of 
his  firebrands  gripped  between  his  teeth,  he  began  a 
descent  of  the  ladder.  Halfway  down  he  paused  for 
breath,  and  furtively  watched,  from  the  tail  of  his  eye, 
for  the  boat  that  should  presently  appear. 

It  came  within  range  of  his  vision  silently,  and 
down  he  continued  as  before.  He  could  only  hope 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  331 

that  he  might  have  been  seen,  for  never  a  sound  arose 
from  the  crew  to  make  the  matter  certain.  For,  per 
haps,  a  distance  of  twenty  feet  he  must  have  been 
plainly  in  view.  The  last  fleeting  sight  he  caught  of 
the  boat,  she  was  putting  about  with  a  suddenness 
enormously  exciting  to  his  blood. 

That  the  Dyaks  had  seen  him,  and  were  now  intent 
upon  turning  away  before  he  should  turn  and  see  their 
boat,  and  know  himself  discovered,  was  an  inescapable 
conclusion.  A  moment  later  he  was  hidden  by  the  ledge, 
and  descended  more  at  leisure,  climbing  inside  the 
ladder  presently,  where  it  hung  well  out  from  the  over 
hanging  shelf,  and  so  coming  down  upon  his  platform, 
with  little  or  no  exertion. 

Immediately  on  landing  under  the  mouth  of  the  cav 
ern,  he  lifted  the  platform  bodily,  disengaged  the  hooks 
from  the  ladder's  lower  rung,  and  drew  it  behind  him  to 
the  cave.  The  ladder  itself  he  could  not  remove  with 
out  climbing  up  to  the  terrace  and  issuing  forth  at 
the  hidden  door,  which  would  doubtless  prove  fatal  to 
his  plans. 

He  proceeded  at  once  to  his  supplementary  fire 
brands,  in  the  larger  spread  of  the  gallery.  Here  all 
was  going  well.  He  extinguished  one  or  two  branches 
of  the  smoldering  wood,  to  conserve  the  limited  supply. 
After  that  it  was  simply  a  matter  of  waiting. 

How  long  it  would  take  for  the  boat  crew  to  land, 
inform  their  fellow  head-hunters  of  what  they  had 
seen,  and  fetch  the  entire  company  to  capture  him, 
here  in  the  chamber,  was  not  a  matter  for  easy  estima 
tion.  He  hoped  it  might  happen  soon. 

In  this  he  was  doomed  to  disappointment.  The  Dyak 
sailors  had  seen  him,  clearly  enough.  They  had 


332  AS  IT  WAS 

hastened  back  to  report  this  eminently  satisfying  out 
come  of  their  tactics,  and  the  nine  eager  fiends  had 
then  and  there  commenced  their  counter  scheming.  But 
they  meant  to  commit  no  errors,  assume  no  unnecessary 
risks. 

For,  notwithstanding  the  fact  they  were  fully  con 
vinced  the  white  man's  explosives  had  been  reached  by 
their  arrows  and  destroyed,  they  retained  a  vivid  mem 
ory  of  punishments  inflicted  by  the  gun,  where  one  more 
deadly  hail  of  slugs  might  lurk  to  find  them  again.  It 
was,  however,  important  that  one  or  more  men  should 
mount  the  terrace,  to  watch  at  the  head  of  the  white 
man's  ladder,  and  even  render  its  use  a  fatal  experiment, 
should  the  climber  attempt  to  regain  the  summit  by 
its  means. 

They  began  investigations  cautiously — all  noted  by 
Elaine.  Peering  breathlessly  out  at  her  narrow  chink, 
her  heart  consumed  with  haunting  worries,  lest  Gren- 
ville  had  met  with  some  accident  when  the  bombs  were 
finally  exploded,  she  now  beheld  a  pair  of  the  Dyaks 
in  the  clearing,  apparently  exposing  themselves  as  if 
to  draw  any  latent  fire  from  the  hill. 

As  the  minutes  went  by  and  trouble  failed  to  come, 
their  boldness  plainly  increased.  They  were  not  par 
ticularly  hurried,  however,  in  producing  their  bridge 
for  the  trail.  When  at  length  four  natives  brought  it 
from  the  jungle,  Elaine's  heart  pounded  in  her  breast 
like  a  hammer  forging  at  her  soul. 

She  had  instantly  recognized  the  bamboo  platform. 
She  thought  that  Sidney  ought  to  come — to  know  of 
what  was  occurring.  But  he  did  not  come,  and  could 
not  leave  his  post  below,  where  one  of  his  fuses,  he  had 
found,  had  opened  and  spilt  out  its  powder.  This  he 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  333 

was  feverishly  and  gingerly  working  to  repair,  by  the 
light  of  a  glowing  brand. 

Not  for  a  moment  daring  to  abandon  her  place  by 
the  door,  Elaine  felt  a  horrible  sense  of  weakness  at 
tack  her  entire  system  as  the  Dyaks  cautiously  ad 
justed  their  bridge,  while  watching  against  a  new 
surprise. 

That  the  four  men  now  constantly  visible  must  pres 
ently  succeed  in  placing  the  slender  platform  from  one 
broken  ledge  to  the  other,  to  mount  in  full  possession 
of  the  terrace,  Elaine  could  not  fail  to  comprehend.  The 
impulse  to  creep  from  her  hiding-place  and  once  more 
fire  the  cannon  was  fairly  overwhelming.  She  was  cer 
tain  that  Sidney,  with  all  his  wonderful  scheming,  had 
never  contemplated  this ! 

He  had  simply  instructed  her  to  wait — to  remain  in 
the  passage,  behind  the  concealing  barrier,  no  matter 
what  occurred,  till  she  felt  at  last  the  tug  of  the  cord 
on  her  arm.  She  felt  she  must  obey,  that  even  to  desert 
her  post  for  the  little  time  required  to  hasten  down 
the  gallery  and  let  him  know  of  the  dangers  now  about 
her  might  cost  them  everything ! 

Never  had  she  in  her  life  been  subjected  to  such  a 
trial  as  that  which  presently  developed. 

The  Dyaks  had  spanned  the  gap  where  the  ledge 
was  broken.  Two  of  them  crept  a  little  forward  on 
the  bridge.  It  was  now  or  never  to  fire  the  gun,  while 
the  four  were  still  in  range.  She  dared  not  disobey  the 
order  given  by  her  chief.  Suddenly  darting  past  the 
spot  where  the  cannon  had  taken  its  toll  before,  the 
Dyaks  gained  the  summit — and  were  finally  in  pos 
session  of  the  camp ! 


CHAPTER  XLII 

LONG  HOURS   OF   DOUBT 

GEENVILLE  had  hoped  to  be  able  to  hasten  for  a 
moment  up  the  gallery  and  assure  Elaine  that  all  was 
well,  and  the  matter  now  merely  one  of  patience. 

His  belated  discovery  that  one  of  his  fuses  was  defi 
cient  had  somewhat  shaken  his  nerves.  Except  for  this 
timely  restoration,  his  whole  project  must  have  been 
weakened,  perhaps  to  absolute  failure.  His  line  of 
fuse  was  necessarily  long,  to  assure  essential  safety  for 
himself.  He  was  obsessed  with  a  fear  that  countless 
defects  might  have  developed  in  the  long  line  of  powder- 
loaded  creeper  since  the  day  it  was  made  and  laid 
away. 

In  a  fever  of  anxious  searching,  he  examined  prac 
tically  every  inch  of  both  the  lines,  meantime  return 
ing  frequently  to  the  cavern's  mouth,  to  guard  against 
surprise.  Before  he  felt  certain  the  fuse  could  all  be 
relied  upon  to  perform  its  part  in  the  business,  he 
finally  detected  a  Dyak  boat  attempting  to  go  about 
and  escape  his  possible  observation  from  the  dark  re 
treat,  while  obviously  hovering  near,  to  watch  that  he 
did  not  escape. 

After  that  he  dared  not  for  a  moment  desert  his 
post.  And  the  longer  the  expected  Dyaks  remained 
away,  the  more  imperative  became  his  watchfulness  and 
constant  attendance  at  the  cave. 

334 


AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING       335 

Meanwhile,  up  at  her  flimsy  door,  Elaine  leaned  af- 
frightedly  against  the  chilling  wall,  no  longer  peer 
ing  forth  at  the  chink,  but  tensely  listening — listening 
for  the  sounds  of  feet  above  her  head.  All  four  of 
the  Dyaks  were  there  on  the  terrace,  and,  therefore,  a 
few  rods  only  from  the  passage  in  which  she  crouched, 
alone. 

There  was  nothing  to  see,  save  the  platform  and  part 
of  the  trail,  and  she  dared  not  stand  so  close  to  the 
door,  lest  her  very  breathing,  or  the  beat  of  her  heart, 
betray  her  presence  at  her  post. 

When  at  length  the  unmistakable  sound  of  beings  on 
the  rocks  directly  overhead  came  dully  down  through 
the  roof  of  pitted  stone,  she  shrank  entirely  down  to 
the  floor,  her  heart  in  a  sickening  flutter.  Just  to  have 
cried  out  Sidney's  name  and  to  run  like  a  child  down 
the  passage  to  his  arms,  would  have  been  a  relief  so 
incredibly  vast  its  comfort  could  not  have  been  meas 
ured. 

But  she  did  not  move.  She  still  obeyed,  like  the 
faithful  comrade  in  arms  she  was,  awaiting  her  por 
tion,  allotted  by  the  Fates,  though  it  might  be  death 
in  its  most  revolting  form. 

What  sounds  were  made  by  the  Dyaks,  in  retreat 
from  that  particular  position,  failed  to  come  down 
through  the  rock.  She  was,  therefore,  denied  the  abate 
ment  of  her  apprehension  which  she  might  otherwise 
have  known.  She  was  thoroughly  convinced  that  one 
of  the  fiends  had  been  posted  above  the  passage  open 
ing  to  remain  indefinitely  on  guard. 

The  Dyaks  had,  however,  concluded  their  examina 
tion  of  the  terrace  rather  promptly.  There  was  al 
most  nothing  worth  investigation.  Grenville's  imita- 


AS  IT  WAS 

tion  cannon  had  served  its  purpose  to  perfection.  The 
head-hunters  marveled  that  a  gun  so  simply  and  read 
ily  constructed  could  have  wrought  such  havoc  in  their 
ranks.  But  they  found  no  reason  to  doubt  it  had  been 
used,  and  they  readily  overlooked  the  small  brass  piece 
so  artfully  hidden  by  the  stones. 

They  had  lost  no  time  in  removing  the  bowlders  that 
supported  Sidney's  ladder.  One  or  two  only  they  suf 
fered  to  remain — sufficient  to  anchor  the  aifair  in  place, 
yet  permit  their  man  to  drop  back  in  the  tide,  should 
he  intrust  his  weight  to  it. 

That  the  white  man's  powder  magazine  had  been 
greatly  diminished  before  their  flaming  arrows  com 
pleted  its  destruction  seemed  indisputable.  The  bombs 
had  torn  out  and  blackened  so  much  of  a  cavity  that  the 
Dyaks'  gratification  was  complete.  It  was  scarcely 
possible,  they  argued,  that  the  man  seen  running  crazily 
about  had  escaped  a  mortal  hurt.  He  had  certainly 
summoned  the  strength  to  escape  to  the  cave,  but  there 
he  might  have  died. 

All  the  waste  sections  of  Sidney's  bamboo  were  thrown 
with  his  cannon  and  his  flag-pole  in  the  sea.  A  thor 
ough  search  was  made  of  Elaine's  former  shelter,  as 
well  as  of  all  the  rock  heaps  on  the  place,  for  the  treas 
ure  the  man  might  have  taken  from  the  cave  and  con 
cealed  about  his  camp. 

Not  until  some  time  after  noon  did  the  visitors  finally 
leave  the  hill  and  disappear  in  the  jungle  growth  to 
mature  their  further  plans.  Elaine  knew  nothing  of 
their  departure.  She  still  remained  back  in  the  dark 
ness  of  the  gallery,  and,  therefore,  neither  heard  nor 
saw  the  movements  made  on  the  ledge.  She  was  hardl}' 
less  prepared  than  before  to  see  the  door  of  the  gallery 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  337 

rudely  torn  away  at  any  moment,  and  the  hideous  head- 
hunters  confidently  pouncing  in  upon  her. 

Grenville,  down  in  the  blackness  of  the  cavern,  was 
hardly  more  easy  in  his  mind.  The  Dyaks  had  failed 
to  appear  before  the  cave.  He  realized  they  might 
conclude  to  starve  him  to  death  in  the  tomb-like  place, 
rather  than  risk  another  of  his  traps.  To  return  to  the 
terrace  was  out  of  the  question.  Not  only  might  the 
natives  be  present,  but,  if  once  he  were  seen,  they 
must  immediately  realize  he  had  some  unknown  means 
of  passage  from  the  cave  to  the  summit. 

That  the  ladder  would  be  watched  he  was  certain. 
It  was  also  more  than  likely,  he  was  sure,  the  Dyaks 
would  either  cut  through  the  strands  to  weaken  it,  near 
the  top,  or  displace  the  rocks  he  had  heaped  upon  its 
end.  Reflecting  that  to  pull  it  down  while  one  of 
their  craft  was  cruising  about  the  headland  might  con 
vince  them  he  had  fallen  in  the  sea,  he  laid  his  platform 
out  on  the  ledge  for  the  purpose  before  the  terrace  had 
been  deserted.  But  the  boat  was  not  to  be  seen. 

At  noon  the  sun  beat  down  on  the  rocks  about  the 
cave  with  a  hot,  intolerable  glare.  Grenville  was  weary, 
as  well  as  thirsty  once  more,  and  faint  from  lack  of 
food.  He  dared  not  abandon  the  cavern  now,  however, 
since  any  moment  might  find  the  Dyaks  slipping  to  the 
open  niche  to  complete  the  deed  they  had  vainly  at 
tempted  before. 

Never  had  the  long,  sultry  hours  of  afternoon 
dragged  by  more  tediously.  Never  had  the  man  so 
vividly  realized  how  much  it  meant  to  be  near  Elaine, 
to  hear  her  voice,  to  gaze  in  the  depths  of  her  eyes. 

It  was  not  till  the  sun  was  about  to  set  that  his  long, 
impatient  vigil  was  somewhat  rewarded  at  last.  The 


AS  IT  WAS 

Dyak  boat  drifted  barely  in  sight,  as  he  crouched  there 
on  the  shattered  ledge. 

Without  a  moment's  hesitation,  even  as  he  saw  that 
the  craft  was  beating  back,  as  before,  to  the  shelter  be 
hind  the  cliff,  he  ran  out  his  platform,  dropped  its 
end  across  a  rung  of  the  ladder,  and  cast  a  heavy  stone 
as  far  out  upon  it  as  possible. 

It  hung  there,  solidly  enough,  for  a  moment,  then 
slipped  a  foot — and  abruptly  the  whole  writhing  length 
came  down,  to  land  in  the  whirlpool  and  sink.  The  plat 
form,  however,  was  recovered.  Returning  at  once  to 
his  place  behind  the  wall,  Sidney  waited  in  new  ex 
pectancy  for  the  Dyaks  to  appear. 

They  did  not  come.  The  sun  went  down — and  with 
it  Grenville's  hope.  The  head-hunters  feared  him  still ! 
They  must  have  determined  some  trick  was  prepared 
against  their  invasion  of  the  cave !  He  was  utterly  sick 
with  discouragement.  His  long,  hard  day,  to  say 
nothing  of  Elaine's,  had  been  spent  like  this,  in  vain. 
He  felt  he  had  merely  lost  ground.  The  Dyaks  were 
doubtless  already  in  possession  of  the  terrace,  where  he 
could  not  attack  them  to  advantage,  since  precisely  as 
soon  as  he  made  his  appearance  on  the  hill-top  the 
passage  must  be  revealed. 

He  clung  to  the  hope  that  dusk  would  bring  the 
murderous  pack  to  his  stand — that  they  might  have 
waited  for  darkness  to  sneak  upon  him  unawares.  But 
the  twilight  faded  into  blackest  night,  with  clouds  ob 
scuring  the  friendly  stars,  and  still  no  head-hunters 
came. 

WThen  at  length  he  was  certain  no  native  would  dare 
intrust  himself  or  his  boat  to  the  treacherous  maelstrom 
of  the  niche,  he  abandoned  hope  for  the  night.  Re- 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  339 

turning  to  the  passageway,  he  closed  its  door  behind 
him,  secured  it  with  the  bar,  and  groped  his  way  up 
ward  through  the  velvet  gloom  for  a  word  of  cheer 
with  Elaine. 

He  called  to  her  softly  as  he  came  towards  the  top, 
and  she  hastened  down  to  meet  him.  She  was  certain 
something  had  gone  amiss,  but  her  courage  was  suf 
ficient  to  sustain  almost  anything,  so  long  as  she  knew 
he  was  safe. 

"  Got  a  bit  hungry,"  he  told  her,  off-handedly. 
"  Those  chaps  do  keep  one  waiting !  " 

"  Sh-s-s-sh ! "  she  said,  in  a  warning  whisper ;  "  I 
think  they're  just  outside." 

"  You  saw  them  come  up  ?  "  he  asked  her,  eagerly. 

"  Four  of  them — after  you  fired  the  bombs.  They 
put  a  bridge  across  the  hole,  as  you  thought,  perhaps, 
they  might." 

"  H'm,"  said  Sidney,  quietly,  going  to  the  door  and 
peering  forth  on  the  jungle.  "  They  haven't  gone 
down  since?  " 

"  Not  that  I  saw.     I  wasn't  watching  all  the  while." 

"  You  haven't  heard  them  talking,  near  the  door  ?  '* 

"No,  oh  no!  I  haven't  heard  a  thing!  I  haven't 
known  what  to  do — or  whether  you  were  alive  or  dead. 
I  didn't  know  what  my  duty  was  when  I  saw  them  come 
up,  and  wanted  to  fire  the  cannon !  I  thought  the  day 
would  never  end !  Have  you  had  to  give  up  at  last  ?  " 

"  Certainly  not !  "  he  assured  her,  cheerfully,  aware 
from  every  accent  of  her  voice  what  tortures  she  had 
suffered  there  alone.  "  I  must  soon  return — and  you 
must  go  to  bed.  I  haven't  the  slightest  idea  they  will 
come  before  next  high  tide,  about  eight,  or  later,  in  the 
morning.  Meantime  you  did  exactly  right.  They 


340        AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING 

haven't  the  slightest  notion  of  this  secret  passage,  you 
may  be  sure,  or  nothing  on  earth  could  have  kept  them 
out.  And  they  long  since  returned  to  their  boats.  .  .  . 
I  suppose  you  have  had  neither  food  nor  water.  A  lit 
tle  hurried  supper  for  us  both,  and  I  must  go  down  to 
the  basement  for  the  night." 

Elaine  had  removed  the  cord  from  her  arm,  and  se 
cured  it  by  the  door.  .  Sidney  ignited  a  slender  piece 
of  torch-wood,  by  the  smoldering  brands  maintained 
in  the  upper  passage.  He  carried  it  promptly  around 
the  angle  of  the  gallery,  however,  as  an  added  precau 
tion  against  the  escape  of  one  revealing  beam  through 
the  chink  that  pierced  the  barrier  facing  the  jungle 
world. 

The  dinner  they  ate  was  neither  warm  nor  comfort 
ing.  Cold  fish  is  barely  sustaining,  while  the  tonic 
properties  of  water  are  scarcely  worth  describing. 
Elaine,  however,  was  enormously  reheartened,  thus  to 
have  Sidney  there  again,  and  know  he  had  suffered 
no  hurt.  She  bade  him  good-night  when  their  meager 
repast  was  finished,  with  the  bravest  cheer  that  Gren- 
ville  had  taken  to  heart  for  many  a  weary  day.  Then, 
with  the  cord  once  more  on  her  arm,  she  resumed  her 
place  by  the  door. 


CHAPTER  XLIII 

THE    HOUR    OF    CLIMAX 

GRENVILLE  made  no  attempt  to  sleep  as  the  long 
night  went  laggardly  by.  He  dozed,  from  sheer  weari 
ness,  now  and  again,  with  his  back  against  the  rocks, 
but  two  or  three  times  in  every  hour  he  rose  from  his 
place  to  go  out  on  the  ledge,  where  he  listened  to  catch 
the  slightest  sound  that  might  be  made  above  the  cease 
less  lapping  of  the  water.  He  would  then  return  to 
the  gallery,  assure  himself  the  smoldering  brands  were 
ready  for  use  at  any  moment,  and  once  more  sit  down 
to  wait  and  nod. 

Elaine  was  equally  sleepless.  Far  more  than  Gren- 
ville  she  feared  night  treacheries  on  the  part  of  the 
Dyaks  from  the  jungle.  The  state  of  her  nerves,  since 
the  terrace  was  so  readily  accessible  to  the  head-hunting 
butchers,  permitted  no  thought  of  sleep.  Moreover, 
never  since  their  arrival  on  the  island  had  Grenville 
so  far  exiled  himself  from  her  side  throughout  a  night. 
She  had  always  felt  protected  heretofore,  and  upon 
that  protection  had  relied. 

As  restlessly  as  the  man  below  she  came  to  the 
door,  times  without  number,  to  listen  for  sounds  the 
jungle  might  surrender,  as  well  as  to  watch  through  the 
darkness  for  the  slightest  inimical  sign.  Not  a  sound, 
however,  did  the  night  vouchsafe  her  straining  senses ; 
not  the  slightest  movement  in  all  the  world  of  shadows, 

341 


342  AS  IT  WAS 

life,  and  tragedy  about  and  below  her  position  could 
her  blazing  eyes  detect. 

She  had  never  known  a  night  so  long,  or  one  so 
haunted  with  fears.  Her  imagination  played  cruelly 
upon  her  heart,  picturing  one  dread  scene  of  butchery 
after  another,  with  Sidney  completely  overwhelmed  and 
finally  slain,  while  she,  no  longer  desirous  of  life, 
awaited  her  fate  in  a  dumb  and  dulled  indifference.  She 
was  certain  the  morning  would  never  dawn  again,  or, 
if  it  did,  the  one  man  pitted  against  these  savages  might 
not  even  have  time  for  one  faint  tug  on  the  cord  about 
her  arm,  more  like  a  farewell  than  a  signal. 

It  was  a  red  and  troubled  break  of  day  that  finally 
reddened  the  eastern  sky,  where  clouds  were  banked 
above  the  sea.  Grenville  had  dozed  for  perhaps  as  much 
as  twenty  minutes.  He  awoke  with  a  start  from  lurid 
dreams  in  which  he  had  fancied  himself  awake  after 
criminally  oversleeping,  only  to  find  himself  and  Elaine 
pinned  down  by  a  horde  of  the  merciless  brutes  to 
whom  human  heads  are  trophies. 

The  red  of  the  sky  for  a  moment  confirmed  some 
remaining  disorder  of  his  thoughts.  He  had  stumbled 
quickly  to  the  cavern's  mouth,  from  which  the  san 
guinary  streaks  and  blotches,  now  painting  the  far 
horizon  and  dully  reflected  in  the  sea,  were  confusedly 
presented. 

The  coolness  of  the  haunting  breeze,  that  crept  like 
a  presence  about  the  silent  island,  restored  him  soon  and 
cleared  the  mists  from  his  brain.  He  stood  for  several 
minutes,  gazing  listlessly  forth,  disgusted  with  the  out 
come  of  the  night. 

Once  more  he  returned  to  the  gallery  to  inspect  his 
brands  of  fire.  And  once  again,  on  returning  to  the 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  343 

chamber,  his  inclination  was  to  prop  his  back  against 
the  wall  and  let  himself  sink  in  slumber. 

The  dawn-light  was  slowly  increasing.  He  watched 
it  dully  for  a  moment  more,  and  yawned  as  he  stumbled 
heavily  towards  the  utter  discomfort  of  his  resting- 
place. 

Once  more  he  adjusted  his  weary  limbs  upon  the 
ledge,  reflecting  on  what  expedient  he  must  now  adopt, 
since  this,  his  coup-de-main,  had  so  egregiously  failed. 
He  thought  he  was  planning  brilliantly  when  he  once 
more  fell  asleep.  The  slightest  of  sounds  that  was 
foreign  alike  to  tide  or  breeze  now  failed  to  arouse  his 
senses  as  his  head  came  forward  on  his  breast. 

Not  another  sound  was  made  where  that  one  had 
strangely  risen  from  the  front  of  the  shattered  ledge. 
Even  the  sharpest  eyes  would  have  been  for  a  moment 
tricked  by  the  shadows  of  the  rocky  niche,  where  the 
tide  was  darkly  swirling.  A  fragment  of  the  lower 
cliff  then  appeared  to  be  detached. 

It  was  simply  Grenville's  catamaran,  with  two  or 
three  natives  upon  its  deck,  silently  maneuvering  to 
land.  Back  of  it,  just  well  off  the  frowning  headland 
wall,  the  bow  of  a  larger  Dyak  craft  appeared  for 
the  fraction  of  a  minute. 

The  head-hunting  fiends  had  arrived!  They  had 
chosen  the  hour  when  exhaustion  finally  culminates  and 
claims  the  helpless  sentinel,  heavily  dreaming  that  all 
is  well ! 

Aware  that  the  slightest  disturbance  might  warn 
their  intended  victims  in  the  cave,  the  Dyaks  labored 
with  the  utmost  caution  to  fetch  the  float  to  the  ledge. 
This  they  presently  accomplished,  fending  it  off  at  a 
vital  moment  lest  it  scrape  against  the  rock. 


344  AS  IT  WAS 

Two  of  the  half-clad  demons  now  landed,  their  move 
ments  as  sinuous  and  silent  as  a  serpent's.  Instantly 
flattening  down  upon  the  tide-lapped  shelf,  while  the 
third  of  their  party  skillfully  guided  the  catamaran 
once  more  to  the  larger  craft  without,  they  waited  as 
patiently  as  the  shadows,  of  which  they  seemed  a  part. 

The  plans  of  the  crew  on  the  boat  without  had  been 
matured  with  much  sagacity.  The  transfer  of  two  more 
men  to  the  raft  was  quickly  and  noiselessly  accom 
plished,  and  once  again  the  catamaran  was  permitted 
to  swing  on  the  tide's  rotation  into  the  open  entrance 
of  the  inlet. 

This  second  pair,  with  knives  between  their  teeth  and 
hands  therefore  unencumbered,  were  a  trifle  overeager 
to  gain  the  mouth  of  the  cave.  One  of  them  caught 
at  the  fissured  edge  of  tufa  with  avid  fingers,  while  the 
float  was  responding  to  the  force  of  the  whirl.  His 
hold  was  rudely  broken,  yet  so  sharply  had  he  dug  in 
his  nails  that  a  fragment  of  rock  was  broken  away.  It 
plumped  with  a  gurgle  in  the  water. 

Grenville  was  suddenly  awakened — not  so  much  by 
the  sound  the  bit  of  rock  had  made  as  by  something 
more  subtle  in  the  very  air — a  something  only  to  be 
interpreted  by  that  instinct  surviving  from  ages  dark 
and  old. 

He  was  suddenly  alive  to  a  sense  of  imminent  danger 
lurking  fearfully  close  at  hand.  None  too  soon  and 
none  too  silently  he  rose  to  his  feet,  for  there  at  the 
ledge  the  catamaran  was  halted  and,  even  as  the  two 
impatient  Dyaks  landed,  their  companions  came  worm 
ing  up  the  shelf. 

A  moment  more  and  all  must  have  been  too  late,  as 
Grenville  clearly  realized.  Indeed,  with  the  utmost  cau- 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  345 

tion  only  could  retreat  to  his  gallery  be  effected  with 
out  a  betrayal  of  his  presence.  He  dared  not  move 
swiftly  from  his  post — and  yet  he  must  be  quick ! 

Slowly  and  noiselessly  withdrawing  from  his  place 
beside  the  wall,  he  took  one  long  step  inwards,  towards 
the  door  he  must  place  against  the  open  gallery 
entrance. 

The  dawn-light,  redder  and  more  intense,  now  cast 
an  intangible  shadow  in  the  chamber  as  a  Dyak's  head 
appeared  above  the  ledge.  The  fiends  were  all  but  on 
his  heels ! 

He  slipped  within  the  passage,  without  creating  the 
slightest  sound,  save  the  loud,  tumultuous  pounding 
of  his  heart.  Lifting  the  door  no  less  cautiously  into 
its  proper  position,  he  left  a  crack,  that  was  barely  a 
half-inch  wide,  through  which  to  watch  his  visitors, 
writhing  like  so  many  pythons  over  the  shelf  and  into 
the  ebon  well  of  gloom. 

Their  plan  was  to  crawl  to  the  confines  of  the  cave — 
unless  they  should  creep  by  chance  upon  their  sleeping 
victims  sooner,  leaving  a  couple  crouched  outside  to 
prevent  the  quarry's  escape.  Torches  were  not  to  be 
lighted  until  every  man  was  posted,  and  then  would 
be  thrown  to  the  center  of  the  cavern  where  their  light 
would  reveal  the  chamber's  occupants,  while  the  outer 
rim  of  darkness  still  concealed  the  gleaming  knives. 
A  counter  attack  would  be  rendered  out  of  the  ques 
tion.  The  cordon  would  be  complete. 

Three  of  those  strangely-moving  shadows  Grenville 
plainly  discerned.  There  was  nothing  more  to  be  seen 
— and  nothing  to  be  heard.  That  several  Dyaks  were 
almost  at  his  feet  he  felt,  but  could  not  have  proved. 
He  had  hoped  for  half  a  dozen  at  the  least.  He  hoped 


346  AS  IT  WAS 

for  them  still,  and  deliberately  waited,  trusting  they 
might  arrive. 

It  seemed  such  a  pity  to  waste  his  mines  and  not 
obliterate  the  lot !  He  wondered  if  more  of  them  might 
not  come — then  how  he  should  know,  if  they  did. 

Meanwhile,  the  three  not  included  here  in  the  cave- 
attacking  party  were  equally  active  above.  The  red 
of  the  dawn  had  seen  them  advancing  through  the  jun 
gle  where  they  meant  to  take  the  hill  and  block  the 
retreat  of  the  victims  to  that  eminence  by  any  chance  of 
extra  ladders  or  white  man's  baffling  magic. 

Elaine  beheld  them,  through  the  strengthening  light, 
so  soon  as  they  crossed  the  clearing.  They  paused 
there  as  if  for  a  signal,  which  they  may  or  may  not 
have  received.  It  gave  the  girl,  who  had  watched  with 
an  ever-increasing  fever  through  the  night  and  that 
blood-red  dawn,  a  long  wild  moment  in  which  to  imag 
ine  fates  untold  that  must  have  overtaken  Sidney. 

She  was  certain  at  last  he  was  murdered  in  the  cave, 
and  that  now,  with  the  passageway  finally  known,  the 
fiends,  whose  passion  was  taking  human  life,  had  come 
to  complete  their  tale  of  butchery  and  plunder.  Why 
else  should  they  once  more  visit  the  hill  at  such  an  hour 
of  the  morning?  They  had  barely  waited  for  the  dawn 
to  make  certain  of  their  work! 

She  saw  them  coming  furtively  up  the  trail,  aware, 
she  was  sure,  that  by  means  of  the  hidden  gallery  their 
movements  might  be  seen.  She  had  held  a  wasting  fire 
brand  in  her  tense  little  fist  for  the  past  two  hours. 
And  now — if  only  Sidney  had  told  her  what  to  do  in 
such  an  extremity  as  this !  If  only  it  might  be  her  duty 
to  fire  the  cannon ! 

It  seemed  as  if  she  must  obey  the  impulse — and  per- 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  347 

haps  save  both  of  their  lives !  The  Dyaks  were  almost 
at  the  bridge.  They  must  soon  come  fairly  in  range 
of  the  gun !  After  that — it  would  be  too  late ! 

Below,  in  the  cavern,  during  this  time,  Grenville  was 
haunted  with  doubts.  He  had  waited  in  hopes  other 
Dyaks  would  come,  and  not  a  sound  had  rewarded  his 
straining  senses.  He  began  to  fear  he  had  waited  too 
long — that  the  creatures  whose  shadows  had  crept 
within  had  searched  all  the  place  and  departed. 

Yet  he  knew  that  they  could  not  have  passed  him  and 
left  him  unaware.  The  light  was  now  all  in  his  favor, 
and  steadily  increasing.  With  a  sudden  determination 
to  take  what  toll  the  Fates  had  offered,  he  groped  his 
way  back  to  his  brands  of  fire,  and  then  to  the  ends 
of  his  fuse. 

Elaine,  with  her  heart  all  but  bursting,  with  excite 
ment  for  which  she  had  no  vent,  saw  the  head-hunters 
pause  on  the  slender  bridge  before  they  crept  upward 
as  before.  Her  weight  was  leaned  against  the  door 
till  it  moved  a  little  from  its  bearings. 

She  was  sure  it  had  made  some  far-reaching  sound 
that  the  Dyaks  could  not  fail  to  hear.  They  had 
paused  again— and  again  moved  up  the  trail — and 
found  her  helpless.  The  cord  on  her  arm! — if  Sidney 
would  only  pull  the  cord — 

The  sharp  little  tug  that  suddenly  came  now  startled 
a  cry  from  her  lips.  Instantly  thrusting  away  the  door 
and  bounding  from  the  narrow  ledge  to  the  upper  level 
of  the  terrace,  she  ran  towards  the  fuse  with  her  cone 
of  fire,  just  as  Grenville,  down  in  the  gallery  of  rock, 
came  madly  plunging  upward. 

He  had  lighted  the  fuse,  and  was  groping  towards  the 
top,  a  fear  that  he  might  be  buried  pursuing  at  his 


348  AS  IT  WAS 

heels.  He  stumbled  across  the  heavy  load  of  treasure, 
left  in  its  basket  by  the  wall. 

As  one  in  an  earthquake  or  fire  clutches  up  some 
thing  to  save  it,  instinctively,  so  he  laid  hold  of  this 
useless  dross  and  tugged  it  hotly  up  the  passage.  He 
reached  the  upper  angle  thus  before  he  realized  the 
folly  of  his  action.  He  was  certain  then,  as  he  dropped 
the  load,  that  something  had  happened  to  his  mines. 

Before  this  time — 

With  the  thought  half  finished  in  his  swiftly-working 
brain  came  the  thud  and  shock  of  his  explosion — a 
tangible  movement  in  the  bulk  of  rock — and  then  the 
cataclysm. 

Almost  as  one  with  Elaine's  small  detonation,  the 
mighty  jar,  the  air-confounding  concussion,  the  smoth 
ered  boom,  and  the  dizzying  tremor  that  swayed  the 
hill,  shook  down  the  girl's  bewildered  senses.  She  saw 
the  red  leap  from  the  cannon's  mouth — and  saw  three 
men,  surprised  to  inaction  on  the  deadly  angle  of  the 
trail — then  down  she  went,  her  mind  convinced  she  had 
rended  the  island  asunder. 

Sounds  of  colossal  destruction  stormed  through  the 
air  for  a  time  that  seemed  to  have  no  end.  The  roar 
of  a  cataract  of  broken  stone,  confusedly  toppling  from 
estates  erected  by  the  ages,  was  lost  in  a  tumult  of 
other  sounds  where  the  headland  seemed  to  fill  the  sea. 

Dust  of  the  rock  and  smoke  of  the  rock  ascended 
with  fumes  of  the  powder.  Tidal  disturbances  splashed 
and  seethed  where  the  sea,  having  split  to  receive  those 
tons  of  chaos,  surged  back  with  augmented  violence 
at  this  displacement  of  its  waters. 

The  cave  had  been  blotted  from  existence !  Its  walls 
and  its  ceiling  had  crashed  from  their  several  places, 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  349 

to  leave  only  an  ugly  scar.  Whole  towers  of  rocks, 
cleaved  from  the  hill's  main  mass  in  sudden  violence, 
had  hung  in  disordered  ruin  against  the  quaking  air  for 
a  second,  then  rioted  downward  on  the  Dyak  boat  to 
plunge  it,  rent  and  shivered,  to  the  bottom. 

Not  a  man  of  that  murderous  group  below  had  sur 
vived  the  climax  of  that  second.  The  place  that  had 
once  been  a  treasure  tomb,  with  a  wailing  "  spirit  "  at 
its  portals,  was  at  last  a  very  tomb  indeed ;  but  never 
more  would  its  tidal  wail  arise  on  the  air  to  render 
the  cavern  sacred. 

Like  a  veritable  spirit  of  underground  destruction, 
Grenville  emerged  from  the  passage,  unaware  of  all 
he  had  done.  His  thought  was  only  of  Elaine.  He 
called,  as  he  climbed  to  the  terrace,  but  no  glad  little 
cry  made  response. 

Then,  abruptly,  he  saw  her  prostrate  figure  on  the 
rocks — and  beyond  her  two  men,  with  one  limberly  in 
ert,  limping  blindly  down  the  trail.  To  dart  to  his 
store,  snatch  the  last  of  his  bombs,  and  pursue  these 
three  who  had  threatened  Elaine  was  the  first  wild  im 
pulse  of  his  being.  Just  one  such  blow,  to  follow  up 
his  victory,  and  perhaps  they  should  need  no  more ! 

But  he  ran  instead  to  the  helpless  figure  near  the 
cannon.  He  knew  what  she  had  done.  He  took  her 
up  swiftly,  calling  on  her  name,  and  carried  her  back 
to  the  former  cave,  where  a  rosy  light  from  the  risen 
sun  made  it  seem  like  a  haven  of  promise. 


CHAPTER  XLIV 

A    LOTUS    BLOSSOM 

IT  was  still  very  early  in  the  morning  when  Gren- 
ville  finally  discovered,  afar  out  northward  on  the  sea, 
two  Dyak  boats  making  swiftly  away  from  the  island. 

He  feared  for  a  moment,  when  the  sails  were  first 
discerned,  they  were  new  craft  about  to  arrive.  He 
could  not  have  known  that  his  mines  sunk  the  third  of 
the  boats  formerly  at  anchor  in  the  inlet,  and  was  in 
no  way  enabled  to  determine  how  many  of  the  enemy 
had  perished  at  the  cave. 

It  was  almost  too  much  to  credit,  this  apparent  re 
treat  of  the  fiends  so  bent  upon  his  capture.  He  made 
no  positive  report  to  Elaine  of  the  fact  he  felt  he  must 
verify,  lest  he  find  himself  obliged  to  retract  it  later. 

She  had  quickly  responded  to  his  ministrations,  hav 
ing  fainted  as  much  from  lack  of  food  and  rest  as 
from  shock  in  that  final  moment.  Concerning  the  final 
effect  of  her  shot,  she  was  destined  never  to  know. 
Grenville  was  far  too  wise  to  let  her  believe  she  had 
taken  the  life  even  of  a  fiend  in  human  semblance. 

He  told  her  the  Dyaks  had  fled  from  the  place,  which 
flight  he  had  personally  witnessed.  He  was  certain, 
moreover,  they  would  hardly  return  again  that  day, 
if  they  did  not  quit  the  island.  Assured  of  the  safety 
of  the  adventure,  he  descended  to  the  jungle  and  re 
turned  with  an  armful  of  fruit.  He  proceeded  later 
to  the  spring  for  a  fresh  supply  of  water. 

350 


AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING       351 

Estimating  the  final  fighting  force  of  the  Dyaks  at 
ten,  and  conceding  that  five,  at  the  least,  must  have 
perished  at  the  cave,  since  one  or  two  must  have 
guarded  the  boats  while  three  were  searching  the  cham 
ber,  he  concluded  that  no  more  than  four  at  the  most 
could  still  remain  uninjured. 

He  had  gone  to  the  edge  of  the  ruin,  above  the  ob 
literated  cave,  and,  having  discovered  no  boat  either 
near  or  far,  had  arrived  at  a  fairly  accurate  conjecture 
respecting  the  fate  of  the  craft  the  Dyaks  had  employed. 
One  more  calculation,  respecting  the  number  of  able 
seamen  required  to  navigate  the  retreating  vessels,  con 
vinced  him  the  island  was  deserted  to  the  uses  of  Elaine 
and  himself. 

It  was  not,  however,  till  that  afternoon  that  he  cau 
tiously  explored  their  former  possessions  and  confirmed 
the  hope  in  his  breast.  There  was  ample  evidence 
about  the  spring,  and  in  the  jungle,  of  the  methods 
of  living  the  Dyaks  had  employed,  but  neither  at  the 
western  inlet,  back  of  the  central  hill  of  rock,  nor  at 
the  friendly  estuary,  was  anything  boatlike  to  be  found. 
His  catamaran  had  vanished,  along  with  the  larger 
craft,  and  its  fate  he  could  readily  surmise. 

He  lost  no  time  in  arranging  a  number  of  his  snares 
and  traps  for  the  meat  of  which  they  were  in  need. 
Their  camp  was  made  as  before  on  the  terrace  proper, 
despite  the  heat  of  the  sun. 

It  was  not  until  many  of  these  essential  comforts 
had  been  once  more  established  that  Sidney  explored 
the  gallery  to  determine  what  destruction  had  been 
wrought  by  his  double  mine. 

Everything  stored  in  the  lower  depths  had  been  hope 
lessly  buried  by  the  rock.  The  passage  was  open  for 


352  AS  IT  WAS 

no  more  than  half  its  former  length.  His  bamboo  raft 
was  among  the  possessions  sacrificed  to  the  ruse  that 
had  finally  succeeded  beyond  even  his  wildest  dreams. 
Not  ten  feet  back  of  his  basket-load  of  treasure  the 
last  of  the  caving  had  been  halted. 

When  Elaine's  robe  and  couch,  their  water-jugs,  and 
his  last  remaining  bomb  had  been  once  more  returned 
to  the  earlier  camp,  practically  nothing  but  the  gold 
and  precious  stones  remained  in  the  gallery.  Elaine 
was  aware  the  trinkets  were  lying  there  on  view,  but 
so  vast  was  her  relief  at  the  vanishment  of  danger — 
though  it  might  be  temporarily  only — she  had  no  de 
sire  for  gauds  and  baubles,  and  no  particular  curiosity 
respecting  their  worth  or  appearance. 

Indeed,  these  two  had  endured  too  much  to  dwell 
upon  jewels  and  gold.  They  were  free  from  menace 
for  a  time,  but — the  future  still  loomed  before  them, 
inimical  and  obscure.  Their  life  in  this  tropic  exile 
was  still  to  be  faced,  day  after  day. 

That  morning  and  long  sweet  afternoon,  however, 
they  passed  in  restful  inactivity,  possessed  by  ineffa 
ble  thankfulness  and  a  sense  of  relief  that  was  utterly 
relaxing  to  their  racked  and  exhausted  nerves.  It 
seemed  a  strange,  impossible  state,  this  peacefulness, 
security,  and  freedom  to  move  about  once  more,  alone 
in  their  Shalimar.  And  Grenville  knew  it  was  far  too 
good  to  last. 

Yet  for  several  days  it  seemed  as  if  the  propitiating 
Fates  made  every  possible  endeavor  to  erase  from  the 
tablets  of  their  memory  all  records  of  the  agonies  and 
apprehensions  they  had  recently  undergone. 

They  were  wonderful  days,  for  sheer  inspiriting 
beauty.  A  cool,  spicy  breeze  was  wafted,  with  the  sun- 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  353 

shine,  across  the  smiling  ocean.  The  jungle  was  redo 
lent  of  fragrances  of  intoxicating  sweetness.  Down  on 
the  beach  her  leafy  bower  once  more  found  Elaine  idly 
resting  in  her  hammock,  or  busily  preparing  a  tempting 
repast  from  the  once  more  generous  larder. 

The  girdle  of  gold  she  continued  to  wear  in  happiness 
that  stole  unbidden  to  her  heart — a  happiness  as  subtle 
and  welcome  as  the  perfumes  that  stole  to  her  senses 
on  the  breeze.  And  when  she  finally  found  and  plucked 
a  solitary  lotus  blossom,  floating  near  the  estuary's 
edge,  it  seemed  as  if  the  ecstasy  possessing  all  her  na 
ture  must  bring  about  some  miracle  of  untold  joy  and 
bliss. 

Grenville  was  hardly  less  transported  by  the  hourly 
pleasures  that  day  and  night  alike  seemed  bearing  to 
this  island  world,  like  argosies  from  Eden.  Subcon 
sciously,  beneath  it  all,  he  knew  the  boats  that  had 
sailed  away  would  one  day  return,  perhaps  with  more 
of  their  species,  and  better  prepared  for  a  swift  and 
merciless  revenge.  Yet  even  then  he  was  slow  to  em 
ploy  his  wits  and  energies  to  prepare  for  another  siege, 
his  disinclination  for  more  revolting  ordeals  casting  a 
lethargy  on  all  his  fighting  attributes,  while  days  like 
these,  voluptuously  serene  and  toxicant,  suggested  vast 
contentment  to  his  spirit. 

Indeed,  his  spirit  as  well  as  his  body  needed  rest. 
To  this  he  was  constantly  urged  by  Elaine,  who  under 
stood,  far  better  than  himself,  how  unsparingly  he  had 
drained  the  vital  essences  of  his  being  through  all  these 
uncounted  weeks. 

She,  too,  was  aware  they  were  only  secure  for  a 
moment,  that  untold  dangers  must  be  lurking  just  be 
yond  the  rim  of  their  purple  horizon.  She  had  finally 


354  AS  IT  WAS 

learned  from  Sidney's  lips  how  the  vessels  had  sailed 
away.  She  had,  however,  seen  this  sign  of  security 
previously  fail — and  felt  it  would  fail  again. 

The  future  her  soul  avoided.  Darkness  and  tragedy 
were  only  too  readily  imagined.  At  best  it  was  all  un 
certain,  rife  with  shadows,  peopled  with  ghosts  of  doubt 
and  haunting  dreads.  Meantime,  their  own  green  Shali- 
mar  was  once  more  fresh  with  sunny  smiles  that  enticed 
her  spirit  to  song. 

She  sang  to  herself  through  many  hours  of  joyous 
"  household  "  duties.  The  songs  she  chose  were  happy 
little  fragments  wherein  she  imagined  Grenville  set,  with 
herself  always  traipsing  at  his  side.  She  sang  her  songs 
to  and  of  him,  watching  him  shyly  when  he  was  near, 
and  sending  her  thoughts  to  seek  him  out  when  he 
hunted  or  wandered  in  the  jungle. 

It  was  not  until  one  of  those  incomparable  mornings, 
with  the  tropic  greenery  fresh  as  a  breath  over  clover, 
that  he  finally  heard  the  notes  she  had  prisoned  in  her 
bosom  break  forth  in  clear,  sweet  utterance,  as  crystal 
bright  as  the  sun. 

He  paused  in  the  screen  of  ferns  and  palms  to  par 
take  of  her  wild,  sweet  rapture.  And  how  lightly  and 
gladly  she  sang! 

"  Come  out,  come  out,  my  dearest  dear, 

Come  out  and  greet  the  sun! 
The  birds  awake  on  tree  and  brake, 
The  merry  May's  begun! 

"  Come  out  and  drink  the  diamond  dew, 

Come  out  and  tread  the  lea! 

The  world  is  all  awake,  and  you 

Are  all  the  world  to  me!  " 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  355 

All  that  was  starved  in  his  nature  stirred  in  response 
to  the  song.  His  blood  leaped  faster,  its  glow  like  that 
of  rich  and  sense-delighting  wine.  A  vivid  memory  of 
the  one  lawless  kiss  he  had  dared  to  snatch  from 
Elaine's  red  lips  inflamed  a  sweet  desire. 

He  had  called  her  his  sweetheart,  called  her  his  mate, 
for  the  frenzy  of  joy,  the  ecstasy,  her  nature  had 
wrought  upon  his  own.  He  felt  to-day  his  claim  had 
been  proved,  by  their  life  alone  with  God.  They  had 
worked  and  fought  and  planned  the  days  away  to 
gether,  like  a  mated  pair  fresh  created  and  cast  to  an 
Eden  of  the  sea.  They  belonged  to  one  another. 

Love  had  come  at  last  to  Elaine — a  love  to  match 
the  strength  and  purpose  of  his  own — a  love  overwhelm 
ing,  natural,  unabashed — was  their  rightful  heritage. 
Its  holiness  gave  it  sanction ;  its  Tightness  made  it  as 
pure  as  fire  that  makes  hard  metal  molten. 

He  started  slowly  towards  the  hill  whereon  Elaine 
was  busied.  He  halted,  however,  hidden  from  view  by 
a  new  banana  foliage,  wondrously  unrolling.  Another 
song  was  floating  on  the  air. 

"  Pale  hands  I  loved,  upon  the  Shalimar, 

Where  are  you  now?     Who  lies  beneath  thy  spell? 
Whom  do  you  lead  on  rapture's  roadway  far 
Before  you  agonize  them,  m  farewell? 

"  Pale  hands  I  loved,  upon  the  Shalimar, 

Where  are  you  now?     Where  are  you  now?  " 

The  mad  intoxication  of  his  senses  rocked  him 
strangely,  there  in  the  thicket.  He  saw  the  gleam  of 
the  jeweled  girdle  that  spanned  Elaine's  lithe  figure,  as 


356       AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING 

she  moved  about  on  the  brink  of  the  terrace  above. 
Once  again  his  heart  struck  mightily  against  its  walls, 
as  it  had  the  first  day  she  had  worn  this  gold,  by  way 
of  a  maid's  confession. 

He  knew  at  last  her  Shalimar  was  a  wild  little  gar 
den  of  love,  to  be  sacredly  shared  between  them.  Ex 
cited  to  trembling  he  started  again  to  join  her  at  the 
cavern.  Before  he  could  come  to  the  foot  of  the  trail 
she  suddenly  ran  to  the  terrace-edge,  looking  down  like 
a  vision  of  despair. 

"  Sidney !  "  she  cried,  "  another  Dyak  boat !  I've 
just  this  minute  seen  the  sail!" 

Ready  to  curse  the  merciless  Fates,  as  well  as  his  own 
recent  laziness,  which  had  made  calamity  possible,  Gren- 
ville  ran  swiftly  up  the  mended  trail  and  followed  Elaine 
to  the  tree. 

The  sail  was  certainly  plain  enough  to  see,  far  out 
in  the  purple  waters.  It  was,  to  all  appearances,  bear 
ing  directly  down  upon  the  island.  But,  as  Grenville 
watched,  it  altered  shape.  His  face  showed  a  sign  of 
relaxing. 

"  I  don't  believe  it's  a  Dyak  craft,"  he  told  her, 
hoarsely.  "  It  looks  like—  I  think  it's  a  yacht." 


CHAPTER  XLV 

THE    LAST    BOMB 

IT  certainly  was  a  modern  yacht  that  the  two  of 
them  saw,  straining  their  eyes  to  identify  the  stranger 
roving  afar  in  their  waters. 

A  trick  of  the  sun,  or  perhaps  her  paint,  had  con 
cealed  both  masts  and  funnel  for  a  time,  presenting 
only  a  rakish  angle  of  her  prow  and  quarter,  incredibly 
like  a  sail  of  the  shape  the  Dyaks  employ. 

But,  if  eager  excitement  surged  uninterruptedly 
through  the  pulses  of  the  two  ragged  exiles,  there  on 
the  barren  headland,  the  bitterness  of  vain  disappoint 
ments  promptly  began  their  inroads  to  its  centers.  The 
yacht  was  not  only  in  great  apparent  haste,  but  was 
heading  far  off  to  the  eastward,  with  not  the  slightest 
curiosity  respecting  the  tiny  island  of  whom  no  one 
could  give  a  good  report. 

The  flagpole  was  gone — and  a  new  one  had  been 
neglected.  There  was  no  time  now  to  erect  another,  as 
Grenville  realized.  He  stood  with  Elaine  on  the  brink 
of  the  rock,  frantically  waving  his  arms  and  cap,  and 
even  a  large  banana  leaf,  while  the  slender  distant  vis 
itor  came  abreast  them  and  continued  straight  ahead. 

"  They've  got  to  see !  They've  got  to !  "  he  cried, 
in  the  desperate  plight  of  mind  begotten  by  this  prom 
ise  thus  mercilessly  snatched  away. 

Suddenly  abandoning  all  other  possible  devices,  he 
357 


358       AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING 

ran  to  his  powder  "  magazine/'  where  the  last  of  the 
bombs  was  stored.  He  came  with  it  hugged  against 
his  breast,  in  thoughtless  and  dangerous  proximity  to 
the  firebrand  clutched  in  his  fist. 

"  Run  back !  "  he  said.  "  I  haven't  time  to  make  it 
thoroughly  safe !  " 

But  Elaine  remained  to  see  him  lower  it  down  on  the 
broken  rocks,  where  the  cave  had  formerly  existed.  She 
waited,  indeed,  till  he  lighted  the  fuse  and  drew  her 
away  towards  the  shelter. 

His  eyes  were  on  the  distant  yacht,  fast  fading  once 
more  from  their  vision.  The  bomb  must  have  failed. 
The  fuse  was  deficient,  he  was  sure.  He  started  back 
to  recover  the  thing  and  make  it  certain  of  explosion. 

Then  it  burst,  and  flung  shattered  fragments  along 
all  the  face  of  the  wall. 

Grenville  was  watching  the  distant  yacht  with  fixed, 
almost  frenzied,  expression. 

"  They  haven't  heard !  "  he  groaned,  despairingly. 
"  They're  going  faster  than  before !  " 

It  certainly  seemed  as  if  the  hurried  stranger  would 
no  more  halt  than  would  a  fiery  meteor  overdue  at  some 
cosmic  appointment. 

Then  of  a  sudden,  from  its  bow,  broke  a  pure-white 
cloud  of  smoke.  She  had  answered  with  the  small  brass 
piece  employed  to  fire  a  salute.  Her  prow  was  turned 
before  the  sound  came  dully  across  the  waters.  Sob 
bing  and  laughing  together,  in  sudden  relief,  Elaine 
sank  down  on  her  knees,  among  the  bowlders,  to  watch 
this  deliverance  come. 


CHAPTER  XLVI 

A    GIFT    REFUSED 

THE  yacht  was  the  "  Petrel,"  luxurious  hobby  of  Sir 
Myles  Kemp,  diverted  from  her  homeward  course  by 
the  merest  whim  of  her  owner  to  run  up  northward  for 
a  day  while  Sir  Myles  should  inspect  the  rubber  plan 
tation  and  estate  of  his  old  fellow-officer,  Captain  Wil 
liams,  who  was  not  even  present  at  the  place. 

The  inspection  was  never  made.  The  utter  amaze 
ment  occasioned  by  the  chance  discovery  of  the  exiles 
of  Three-Hill  Island,  plus  their  story  of  its  fateful 
occupation,  completely  overshadowed  all  else  in  the 
minds  of  the  "  Petrel's  "  commander  and  crew,  whose 
one  idea  was  to  assist  the  castaways  home  with  the 
greatest  speed  of  which  steel  and  steam  were  capable. 

The  picture  the  pair  presented  as  they  came  aboard 
— Elaine  amazingly  tattered,  a  supple,  tanned,  incred 
ibly  sweet  and  womanly  little  figure — Grenville,  a 
bearded,  active  master  of  the  wild,  clad  in  the  skin  of 
a  cheeta  for  a  coat,  and  bearing  a  richly  colored  tiger- 
skin,  rolled  up  to  contain  a  hundredweight  of  treasure 
— was  one  that  Sir  Myles  was  destined  never  to  forget. 
He  was  likewise  always  destined  to  misunderstand  the 
emotions  with  which,  as  they  steamed  away  at  last, 
Elaine  looked  back,  with  tears  in  her  eyes,  at  the  un 
peopled  Isle  of  Shalimar,  so  green  in  its  purple  set 
ting,  presenting  its  headland  to  the  sea  with  that  lone 
tree  reared  above  its  summit. 

359 


360  AS  IT  WAS 

Grenville,  too,  had  seen  her  eyes — and  he  more  nearly 
comprehended. 

By  great  good-fortune  much  of  Lady  Kemp's  ward 
robe  had  been  left  aboard  the  yacht.  She  and  Elaine 
must  have  been  of  a  size,  to  judge  from  the  manner 
in  which  her  yachting  apparel  and  her  dainty  boudoir 
adjusted  themselves  to  the  form  of  the  girl  whom  Sir 
Myles  began  forthwith  to  treat  as  he  might  a  daughter. 

The  "  Petrel "  was  put  about  and  headed  for  Co 
lombo — the  nearest  port  at  which  an  Orient  steamer 
would  be  likely  to  be  encountered.  It  was  not  until 
after  dinner  had  been  served  and  his  guests  had  been 
made  as  thoroughly  comfortable  as  warm-hearted  hos 
pitality,  admiration  for  the  two  of  them,  and  excep 
tional  thoughtfulness  could  compass  that  Sir  Myles 
related  the  accepted  fate  of  the  "  Inca,"  from  the  wreck 
of  which  they  escaped. 

The  news  had  gone  forth  that  she  foundered,  and  not 
a  soul  was  saved.  A  few  insignificant  pieces  of  wreck 
age  had  been  found  afloat,  far  from  the  unknown  ledge 
of  rock  the  earthquake  had  lifted  in  the  sea,  but  no 
one  till  now  had  heard  so  much  as  a  theory  as  to  what 
had  been  her  fate. 

That  some  such  intelligence  must  have  been  sent  to 
the  worried  and  waiting  relatives  and  friends  beyond 
the  seas,  both  Grenville  and  Elaine  had  long  before  com 
prehended,  despite  the  preoccupation  engrossing  their 
minds  all  these  many  age-long  weeks.  But  now,  when 
at  length  they  were  homeward  bound,  the  facts  pre 
sented  an  aspect  which  there  had  been  no  occasion 
to  prepare  against  while  struggling  for  existence  on 
the  island. 

There  was  one  thought  only  in  their  minds.     It  was 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  361 

Penton,  and  what  he  might  have  done  when  that  news 
had  expended  its  shock.  And  what  would  be  the  out 
come  of  the  story,  now  that  the  home-coming  journey 
was  resumed — now  that  he,  Sidney  Grenville,  could  at 
last  complete  and  discharge  his  original  commission? 

He  faced  the  business  hardly  more  calmly  than  did 
Elaine.  No  argument  possible  to  him  now,  respecting 
the  warning  Fenton  had  received,  availed  to  allay  and 
satisfy  his  haunting  sense  of  honor.  The  man  had  ma 
tured  on  Shalimar,  and  his  soul  had  been  refined. 

But  what  strange  days  those  were  that  now  suc 
ceeded  !  How  they  robbed  him  of  his  happiness,  as  they 
brought  him  nearer  home !  His  spirits  sank  and  would 
not  rise,  the  nearer  Colombo  was  approached.  He  told 
himself  then,  once  he  could  wire,  acquaint  Gerald  Fen- 
ton  with  the  fact  they  were  safe,  and  would  soon  be 
with  him,  he  would  come  to  some  peace  of  mind. 

But,  when  at  length  the  wire  was  sent,  he  experienced 
no  such  relief.  Relief,  indeed,  had  failed  to  come  when 
for  three  days  and  nights  the  Orient  boat  had  been 
plowing  across  the  Indian  Ocean,  rushing  headlong 
from  the  tropic  heat  to  the  distant  ports  beyond. 

He  thought,  perhaps,  if  he  informed  Elaine,  the  busi 
ness  would  be  settled.  He  attempted  that  day  to  in 
troduce  the  subject,  but  in  vain.  Elaine  was  so 
sparklingly  happy !  He  postponed  the  ordeal  for  the 
night. 

The  moon  had  returned  to  the  skies  again,  bringing 
to  the  wanderers  ineffable  memories  of  other  nights, 
when  peace  lay  tranquilly  fragrant  on  the  world  of 
their  Shalimar.  He  detected  its  subtle  influence  on  the 
ever-vivacious  little  woman  who  had  shared  his  perils 
and  his  joys. 


AS  IT  WAS 

Elaine  was  softly  thrilling  to  the  spell  of  it  all  as 
she  halted  beside  him,  finally,  on  a  strip  of  the  deck 
abandoned  to  their  uses.  She  felt  that  the  atmosphere 
was  overcharged,  and  wondered  what  might  be  impend 
ing.  To  still  the  pounding  of  her  heart  she  leaned 
on  the  taffrail,  ecstatically  in  touch  with  Grenville's 
arm.  She  spoke  of  the  wonder  of  the  night. 

"  Yes,"    drawled    Grenville,    in    his    old    dry    way, 

"  great   facilities   here   for  manufacturing   nights 

I  wired  Gerald  from  Colombo." 

For  a  moment  Elaine  was  puzzled  by  this  wholly 
irrelevant  remark.  Then  her  heart  began  to  rock 
uneasily. 

"  You — wired  we  were  coming  home  ?  " 

"  Wired  I  was  fetching  you  home,  after  unavoid 
able  delay." 

She  recognized  the  difference  between  the  way  that 
she  and  he  had  expressed  the  principal  fact.  She  felt 
herself,  as  it  were,  already  surrendered  to  a  man  grown 
singularly  foreign  to  her  nature.  It  seemed  to  her  in 
credible  that  Sidney  and  she  should  ever  again  be 
parted,  or  work  out  their  several  destinies  in  any  man 
ner  save  together — especially  after  all  he  had  said  and 
even  done. 

"Was  that — all  you  said?"  she  asked  him,  faintly. 

"  No.  I  said  I'd  be  best  man — or  something  of  the 
sort." 

Elaine  felt  something  leaden  go  down  to  the  point 
of  her  heart. 

'  You  wanted  him  to  know  that  you  had  no  idea 

You  wanted  Gerald  to  understand "     She  could  not 

finish  her  sentence.     Her  face  was  hotly  flaming,  but 
at  least  she  could  turn  it  away. 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  363 

Grenville's  voice  was  hard  and  strange. 

"  It  was  barely  his  right  to  know  that  we  were  com 
ing.  I  could  do  no  less,  as  you'll  certainly  agree." 

His  speeches  were  constrained,  unnatural,  as  Elaine 
had  instantly  felt.  Her  own  were  scarcely  less  embar 
rassed — after  all  these  months  when  their  entire  world 
had  comprised  themselves  alone.  It  seemed  a  mon 
strous  error  that  anything  but  free,  unfettered  com 
panionship  and  candor  should  exist  between  them  now. 

"  I  know,"  she  said.  "  Of  course."  She  added,  after 
a  moment,  "  It  seems  so  peculiar,  that's  all — to — re 
sume  as  we  were  before." 

He  was  looking  at  his  fist,  for  no  good  reason  in 
the  world. 

"  It  is  what  you  have  hoped  for  every  day." 

"  To  get  away  from  the  Dyaks — why,  of  course." 

Another  silence  supervened.  After  three  unsuccess 
ful  efforts  at  speech,  Elaine  at  last  found  the  voice 
and  the  courage  for  a  question: 

"Do  you  wish  to  be — best  man?" 

Grenville  spread  out  his  fingers,  for  further  inspec 
tion. 

"  I  probably  shouldn't  have  suggested  it  otherwise." 

She  turned  upon  him  impulsively.  "  Sidney,  are  you 
absolutely  honest?  " 

"  Oh,  I  wouldn't  trouble  old  Diogenes  to  get  out 
of  his  grave  and  look  me  up,"  he  answered,  in  his  cus 
tomary  spirit,  "  but  I've  got  a  faint  idea  what  honor 
means." 

How  well  she  knew  his  various  manners  of  evasion! 
Her  heart  was  pounding  furiously.  She  leaned  with 
all  her  weight  against  the  rail,  as  if  for  fear  he  must 
hear  its  clamorous  confessions. 


364  AS  IT  WAS 

She  had  never  been  so  excited  in  her  life — or  more 
courageous.  Likewise  she  felt  she  possessed  certain 
God-given  rights  that  were  poised  at  the  brink  of  dis 
aster.  For  a  love  like  hers  comes  never  lightly  and 
is  not  to  be  lightly  dismissed.  Her  utterance  was  diffi 
cult,  but  mastered. 

"  One  night — in  the  smoke — on  the  island — when  we 
might  have  died  of  thirst — and  you  came  with  wa 
ter —  You  remember  what  you  said?" 

"  Concerning  what?  " 

"  Concerning — love." 

He  was  gripping  a  stanchion  fiercely;  his  fingers 
were  white  with  the  strain. 

"  Vaguely—          I  think  I  was  exhausted." 

"  Oh !  you're  not — you're  not  honest  at  all !  "  she 
suddenly  exploded.  "  That  day  of  the  wreck — on  the 
steamer — you  know  what  you  said  to  me  then !  And  any 
man  who  has  acted  so  nobly,  so  thoughtfully ' 

He  turned  and  gripped  the  small,  soft  hand  by  his 
coat-sleeve  on  the  rail. 

"  Don't  do  it,  little  woman — don't  do  it !  "  he  said, 
in  a  low  voice,  charged  with  passion.  "  You  told  me 
some  stinging  truths  that  day,  and  now — they're  truer 
than  ever !  " 

"  I  didn't !  "  she  said,  no  longer  master  of  her  feel 
ings.  "  I  didn't  tell  the  truth !  I  said  I  hated — said  I 

loathed And  you  scud  I'd  throw  his  ring  in  the 

sea — and  you  said  you'd  make  me — like  you — some — 
and  you  know  that  I  couldn't  help  liking  you  now — 
when  you've  treated  me  so  horribly  all  the  time!  And 
after  everything  we've  done  together " 

"  Elaine !  "  he  interrupted,  hoarsely,  "  when  did  you 
throw  away  his  ring?  " 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  365 

"  After  the  tiger — the  night  I  gave  you  the  cap,  and 
you  acted  so  hatefully  and  mean !  It  bounced  and  went 
into  the  water." 

He  was  white,  and  tremendously  shaken,  while  gleams 
of  incandescence  burned  deeply  in  his  eyes.  How  he 
stayed  the  lawless  impulse  to  take  her  to  his  arms  he 
never  knew.  He  dropped  her  hand  and  turned  away, 
with  a  savage  note  of  pain  upon  his  lips. 

"Good  Heavens!"  he  said,  "why  don't  you  help 
me  a  little?  I  had  no  right  then!  I  have  no  right 
now !  .  .  .  I'm  going  to  take  you  home  to  Fenton,  if 
it's  the  very  last  act  of  my  life !  " 

She,  too,  was  white  and  trembling. 

"  I  know  what  you  mean — you  never  loved !  You 
don't  know  the  meaning  of  the  word !  " 

"  All  right,"  he  said.     "  We'll  let  it  go  at  that." 

"  Oh,  you're  perfectly  horrid !  "  she  suddenly  cried, 
the  hot  tears  springing  to  her  eyes.  "  I  refuse  to  be 
taken  back  to  Gerald !  I  refuse  to  have  anything  more 
to  do  with  any  selfish  man  in  the  world !  " 

She  retreated  a  little  towards  the  saloon,  her  two 
hands  going  swiftly  to  a  gleaming  band  that  all  but 
spanned  her  waist. 

"  And  there's  your  old  girdle,  with  Gerald's  ring, 
that  you  made  me  throw  away !  "  she  added,  flinging 
the  tiger's  collar  towards  the  sea. 

It  struck  on  a  stanchion,  bounded  to  the  deck,  and 
settled  against  a  near-by  chair.  She  waited  a  second, 
instantly  ashamed,  and  longing  to  beg  his  forgiveness. 
But  he  leaned  as  before  against  the  rail,  his  eyes  still 
bent  upon  the  water. 

Weakly,  with  drooping  spirits,  Elaine  retreated 
through  an  open  door,  still  watching,  in  hopes  he  would 


366       AS  IT  WAS  IN  THE  BEGINNING 

turn  and  call  her  back.  Then,  stoutly  suppressing  her 
choking  and  pent  emotions,  she  fled  to  the  dismal  com 
fort  of  her  stateroom,  and,  falling  face  downward  in 
her  narrow  berth,  surrendered  to  the  vast  relief  of 
sobbing. 


CHAPTER  XLVII 

A    FRIEND    IN    NEED 

THAT  one  more  shock  of  surprise  could  overtake  the 
returning  castaways  before  the  final  landing  could  be 
accomplished  would  have  seemed  incredible  to  either 
Grenville  or  Elaine — and  yet  it  came. 

They  had  spent  a  number  of  wretched  days — days 
far  more  miserable  and  hope-destroying  than  any  their 
dire  experience  had  brought  into  being,  as  the  mere 
result  of  that  final  scene  enacted  in  the  moonlight  by 
the  rail. 

The  steamer  had  touched  in  the  night  at  some  unim 
portant,  outlying  port  of  call  to  which  no  one  had 
paid  the  tribute  of  interest  usual  on  the  sea.  A  single 
male  passenger  had  boarded. 

The  man  was  Gerald  Fenton.  The  message  dis 
patched  from  Colombo  had  fetched  him,  post  haste,  to 
this  midway  ground  for  the  meeting.  But  the  meeting 
occurred  in  a  manner  wholly  uexpected. 

Like  the  wholly  considerate  gentleman  he  was,  Fen- 
ton  had  made  all  preparations  for  removing  the  star 
tling  elements  from  the  fact  of  his  presence  on  the  boat. 
Like  so  many  of  life's  little  schemings,  however,  the 
plans  went  all  "  aglee." 

Elaine  not  only  did  not  linger  in  her  stateroom  in 
the  morning  late  enough  to  receive  his  note  from  the 
stewardess,  but,  when  she  hastened  up  to  the  topmost 

367 


368  AS  IT  WAS 

deck  for  her  early  morning  exercise  before  the  more 
lazy  should  appear,  she  literally  ran  into  Fenton's 
arms  at  the  head  of  the  narrow  stairs. 

Her  surprise  could  hardly  have  been  greater.  She 
recoiled  from  the  contact  automatically,  before  she  had 
time  to  see  who  it  was  with  whom  she  had  collided. 
Then  a  note  of  astonishment  broke  from  her  lips  as 
she  halted,  leadenly. 

"  Why — Gerald !  "  she  managed  to  stammer,  with 
out  the  slightest  hint  of  gladness  in  her  tone. 
"Here?" 

"  Well,  little  girl !  "  he  answered,  smilingly ;  and, 
coming  to  her  in  his  quiet  way,  he  took  her  hands  to 
greet  her  with  a  kiss. 

A  note  of  uncertainty  forced  itself  to  audible  expres 
sion  as  she  slightly  retreated  from  his  proffered  caress 
and  received  it  on  her  cheek. 

"  Well !  well !  "  Fenton  continued,  "  you're  certainly 
fit — and  brown!  You  couldn't  have  had  the  note  I 
sent  to  break  the  news.  I  tried  to  give  you  warning." 

"  No,"  she  said,  constrainedly,  "  I've  had  no  word. 
How  did  you  get  here — come  aboard?  I  don't  see 
how —  It  took  me  so  by  surprise." 

"  I'm  sorry,"  he  said,  his  smile  losing  something  of 
its  brightness.  "  I  boarded  at  midnight,  when  the 
steamer  touched  at  Fargo.  When  I  got  Sid's  wholly 
incredible  wire  that  you  were  both  safe  and  well  and 
coming  home But  how  is  the  good  old  rascal?  " 

Elaine's  constraint  increased. 

"  Quite  well,  I  believe — as  far  as  I  know." 

"  Isn't  he  with  you,  here  on  the  boat,  going 
home?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  he's  on  the  steamer." 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  369 

Fenton  was  groping,  without  a  woman's  intuitions, 
through  the  something  he  felt  in  the  air. 

"  Don't  you  like  him,  Elaine  ?  "  he  asked  her,  bluntly. 
"  What's  wrong?  " 

"  Why — nothing's  wrong,"  she  answered,  unconvinc- 
ingly.  "  It's  just  the  surprise  of  meeting  you  like 
this." 

"  I'm  sorry,"  he  said,  as  he  had  before,  his  eyes  now 
entirely  smileless.  "  I  might  have  managed  it  better, 

I  suppose Aren't  you  a  little  bit  glad  to  see 

me?" 

Elaine  attempted  a  smile  and  a  manner  more  cordial. 

"  Of  course — I'm  delighted!  But  it  takes  me  just  a 
minute  or  so  to  realize  it's  really  you." 

"  Never  mind.  Take  your  time,"  he  told  her,  in 
dulgently.  "  Perfect  miracle,  you  know,  that  you  and 
old  Sid  should  have  come  through  the  wreck  of  the 
1  Inca  ' — the  sole  survivors  of  the  accident — and  lived 
out  there — somewhere — on  an  island,  I  hear — and  now 
be  nearing  home.  I'm  eager  to  hear  the  story." 

"  Yes,"  she  agreed,  "  it  doesn't  seem  real  to  me, 
now.  It's  more  like  a  long,  strange  dream." 

"  I  have  only  heard  a  little  from  the  captain,"  he 
continued,  forcing  a  conversation  which  he  felt  was 
wholly  unspontaneous  and  hardly  even  congenial. 
"  Naturally,  all  his  information " 

She  saw  his  eyes  quickly  brighten  as  his  gaze  went 
past  her  to  the  stairs. 

"  Sid !  "  he  cried,  moving  swiftly  forward ;  and  Gren- 
ville  appeared  on  the  deck. 

His  face  was  suddenly  reddened,  beneath  the  veneer 
of  tan.  But  the  boyish  joy  with  which  he  rushed  for 
Fenton  was  a  heartening  thing  to  see. 


370  AS  IT  WAS 

The  two  simply  gripped,  with  might  and  main,  and 
hammered  each  other  with  one  free  hand  apiece,  and 
laughed,  and  called  one  another  astonishing  names  till 
it  seemed  they  might  explode. 

"  You  savage !  You  tough  old  Redskin !  "  Fenton 
finally  managed  to  articulate,  distinctly.  "  If  it  isn't 
yourself  as  big  as  life!  And  I  want  you  to  know  I 
haven't  made  your  fortune — not  exactly — yet — but  it's 
certain  at  last.  And  how  about  your  winning  my  little 

girl?  Speak  up,  you  caveman  of  the Oh, 

Elaine!" 

But  Elaine  had  fled  the  scene. 

That  moment  began  the  tug  at  the  ties  of  friend 
ship  and  the  test  of  the  souls  of  the  three.  It  was  not 
a  time  of  happiness  that  thereupon  ensued.  Elaine 
avoided  both  the  men  as  far  as  possible.  Grenville 
alone  seemed  natural,  and  yet  even  his  smiles  were 
tinged  with  the  artificial. 

He  was  glad  to  relate  their  varied  adventures — the 
tale  of  the  perils  through  which  they  had  finally  won. 
But  how  much  of  it  all  Gerald  Fenton  really  heard  no 
man  could  with  certainty  tell. 

Fenton  was  neither  a  self-conceited  person  nor  a  blind 
man,  groping  through  life.  Through  the  stem  of  his 
finely  colored  calabash  he  puffed  many  a  thought, 
along  with  his  fragrant  tobacco  fume,  and  revolved  it 
in  his  brain. 

Between  certain  lines  of  Grenville's  story  he  read 
deep  happenings.  That  Sidney  had  saved  and  pre 
served  Elaine,  and  battled  for  her  comfort  and  her 
very  life,  against  all  but  overwhelming  odds,  was  a  fact 
that  required  no  rehearsal. 

Mere  propinquity,  as  Fenton  knew,  has  always  been 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  371 

the  match-maker  incomparable,  throughout  the  habited 
world.  Add  to  the  quite  exceptional  propinquity  of 
a  tropic-island  existence  a  splendid  and  unfaltering 
heroism  in  Grenville,  together  with  a  mastery  of  every 
situation,  months  of  daily  service  and  devotion,  and 
the  rare  good  looks  that  Sidney  had  certainly  devel 
oped — and  what  wonder  Elaine  should  be  changed? 

The  change  in  her  bearing  had  struck  him  at  once 
at  the  moment  of  their  meeting  by  the  stairs.  He  had 
never  got  past  that  since.  When  at  length  his  course 
was  clearly  defined  and  his  resolution  firmly  fixed,  it 
still  required  skillful  maneuvering  on  Fenton's  part  to 
manage  the  one  little  climax  on  which  he  finally 
determined. 

But  night,  with  her  shadows,  her  softening  moods, 
and  her  veiling  ways  of  comfort,  was  an  ally  worthy 
of  his  trust.  When  he  finally  engineered  the  unsus 
picious  Grenville  to  the  upper  deck,  where  Elaine  had 
already  been  enticed,  evasion  of  the  issue  was  done. 

"  It's  amazing,"  said  Fenton,  in  a  pleasant,  easy 
manner,  "  how  I  am  becoming  the  talker  of  the  crowd, 
when  both  you  fond  adventurers  should  be  spilling  out 
lectures  by  the  mile.  However,  such  is  life."  He 
paused  for  a  moment,  but  the  others  did  not  speak. 

"  The  genuine  wonder  of  it  all,"  he  presently  con 
tinued,  "  is  seeing  you  both  come  back  thus,  safe  and 
sound.  I  underwent  my  bit  of  grief  when  the  news  of 
the  monstrous  disaster  finally  arrived,  as,  of  course,  did 
many  another.  I  thought  I  had  lost  the  dearest  friend 
and  the — well,  the  dearest  two  friends — the  dearest  two 
beings  in  the  world  to  me,  in  one  huge  cataclysm." 

He  paused  once  more  and  relighted  his  pipe.  The 
flame  of  his  match  threw  a  rosy  glow  on  the  two  set 


372  AS  IT  WAS 

faces  on  either  side  of  his  position,  as  well  as  on  his 
own.  No  one  looked  at  anyone  else,  and  the  two  still 
failed  to  answer. 

"  Well — here  you  both  are !  "  the  smoker  resumed, 
crushing  the  match  and  throwing  it  away.  "  If  I  were 
to  lose  your  love  and  friendship  now —  But  never 
mind  that — I  sha'n't!  You  were  dead  to  me,  both  of 
you,  all  those  months,  and  mourned  rather  poignantly. 
That's  the  point  I  want  you  both  to  understand — that 
I  had  accepted  the  fact  of  losing  you  both,  forever." 

Grenville  slightly  stirred,  but  did  not  speak.  Elaine 
was  clasping  her  hands  in  her  lap  and  locking  her 
fingers  till  they  ached. 

"  Naturally,"  Fenton  told  them,  quietly,  "  I  con 
formed  my  thoughts  to  your  demise,  at  last,  as  we  all 
must  do  in  actual  cases.  I  adjusted  my  heart-strings, 
when  I  could,  anew.  Nobody  else  came  into  my  life, 
to  occupy  your  places,  for  nobody  could.  Yet  I  did 
adjust  things  as  I've  said.  Well — now  that  brings 
us  up  to  the  point." 

Grenville  sank  back  against  his  seat,  but  restlessly 
leaned  forward  as  before.  Elaine  alone  remained  ab 
solutely  motionless,  rigid  with  attention,  if  not  also 
with  suppressed  excitement  at  something  she  felt  im 
pending.  Fenton  thumbed  at  the  glowing  tobacco  in 
his  pipe. 

"  It  appears  to  me,"  he  continued,  "  all  the  circum 
stances  I  have  mentioned  being  taken  into  considera 
tion,  that  you  two  friends  that  I  love  so  well  have  so 
many  times  saved  one  another's  lives  that  no  one  living 
has  the  slightest  right  to  think  or  to  act  as  might 
have  been  the  case  if  you  had  not  passed  so  entirely 
from  his  ken,  and  his  plans,  and  daily  existence.  His 


IN  THE  BEGINNING  373 

claims  to  your  resurrected  selves  are — different,  let  us 
say,  or  secondary." 

The  silence  that  fell  for  a  moment  became  acutely 
painful. 

"  That's  all  I'm  really  driving  at,  after  all  my  long 
and  labored  preamble,"  Fenton  concluded,  deliberately 
rising  and  facing  about  to  confront  the  pair  on  the 
bench.  "  I  recognize  certain  inevitable  things — and  I 
know  they're  right — and  the  way  the  Almighty  in 
tended.  .  .  .  Don't  let  me  lose  my  friends  again.  .  .  . 
Let's  all  be  sensible.  ...  I  don't  ask  or  expect  to  be 
loved  the  way  you  love  one  another — but  I'd  like  to  be 
old  Gerald  to  you  both." 

He  turned  and  went  slowly  down  the  narrow  stairs, 
and  his  pipe  trailed  a  spark  behind  him. 

After  a  time,  when  Grenville  moved  over  and  placed 
his  arm  about  Elaine,  she  struggled  for  a  moment, 
feebly. 

"  I  don't — I  don't  love  you  in  the  least !  "  she  pro 
tested.  "  I  hate  you — as  I  always  have — and  the  way 
I  always  shall !  " 

Her  arms  went  swiftly  about  his  neck,  however,  in  a 
passionate,  fierce  little  hug.  She  was  laughing  and  cry 
ing  together. 

"All  right,"  said  Grenville,  calmly.  "That's  the 
kind  of  hate  I  want." 

He  kissed  her  once  on  her  upturned  lips  for  every 
hour  they  had  suffered. 

THE    END 


000  127  733     4 


_  . 


